Austin Jackson, recovering from an abdominal strain, might be back with the Tigers as early as Friday, a day sooner than planned.
On Wednesday, manager Jim Leyland told the media that Jackson was expected to spend at least two days on an injury-rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo. The plan was for Jackson to bat three times Thursday, play a complete game on Friday and, if things went well, rejoin the Tigers in Cincinnati on Saturday.
But Jackson played all nine innings of Toledo's 6-1 loss to Charlotte on Thursday night. He went 0-for-4, striking out twice as Charlotte starter Terry Doyle took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Audy Ciriaco doubled to lead off the ninth, just before Jackson grounded out in his final at-bat.
With Jackson having now played an entire game a day ahead of schedule, and the Tigers shorthanded going to Cincinnati, it seems possible he'll be in center field and leading off at Great American Ball Park on Friday.
