Tigers notes: It's DH-only for Cabrera through All-Star break; Fulmer diagnosis confirmed

Detroit —  Miguel Cabrera made his seventh straight start as the Tigers’ designated hitter Saturday. He hasn’t played first base since June 22. And you know how manager AJ Hinch knows he’s doing right by the future Hall of Famer?

Cabrera isn’t pushing back against it.

“That probably tells me all I need to know,” Hinch said. “Obviously, he wants to be out there but he recognizes we need to be smart about these next 10 games.”

Cabrera is still getting treatment on his right calf, which took him out of the lineup for a couple of games.

“We’ve gone back to DH-only with him for the time being,” Hinch said. “We’re really just being super cautious with him. He still feels OK but every now and then I can see him favor it a little bit. Not enough to take him out of the lineup, but enough where I just want him to have his at-bats.”

Cabrera, who hit .329 in June, was 6 for 12 in Cleveland earlier in the week and scored five runs. That, too, led to a more cautious approach in terms of keeping him off the field defensively.

“Yeah, it was a good thing (that he was on base so much) but it gave me a little pause,” Hinch said. “We’re just being careful with him. We’ll probably not play him on the day game tomorrow or the day game in Texas. We’re trying to get him to the All-Star break.

“He’s in a good place right now mentally. But physically, we’re doing the best we can with him.”

Cabrera had two hits and walk Saturday. 

Mize an All-Star?

Now that the Tigers are rationing the innings of rookie right-hander Casey Mize, what happens if he is selected as the Tigers representative at the All-Star Game?

Nothing but a lot of backslaps and rejoicing. 

"From my vantage point, if he's pitched his way onto the All-Star team, then he should get all the notice and the experience of going to the All-Star Game," Hinch said. "I realize we are being super careful with his innings and things like that, but that shouldn't get in the way of his getting rewarded for the first half he's had."

As it turns out, the All-Star Game, July 13, would fall on Mize's normal turn in the rotation. He would have one more short start on July 7. 

"We need to reward players when they earn it," Hinch said. 

Jonathan Schoop, Gregory Soto and Jose Cisnero will also likely get consideration as add-ons to the American League team. 

Fulmer diagnosis confirmed

Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer is on his way to Lakeland after consulting with specialist Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on Friday.

Meister confirmed the diagnosis of the Tigers’ medical team —  he’s dealing with a muscular issue in his neck.

“We aren’t expecting him to be back before the All-Star break,” Hinch said. “But hopefully it won’t be too long after.”

Fulmer, who had emerged as one of the Tigers’ late-inning options, had only made two appearances since June 20.

Around the horn

… Outfielder Victor Reyes (intercostal muscle) has resumed his rehab stint in Lakeland. He missed a couple of days after jamming his shoulder making a slide. Lefty Derek Holland (shoulder) threw a live bullpen in Lakeland on Friday. Because of severe weather, Hinch said both players could be transferred to Triple-A Toledo to continue their rehab assignments.

...Utility man Niko Goodrum (finger) began his rehab assignment at Toledo on Saturday. He'd taking live batting practice from right-hander Alex Lange earlier in the day was scheduled to be the designated hitter in the game. "He'll get a couple of games in the outfield and in the infield and then we will make an assessment if he's going to join us some time on the road trip," Hinch said. 

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