Tigers Notes: Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez out of Wednesday's lineup
DETROIT -- The hit machine is getting his first game off in 2014 on Wednesday afternoon. Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera had started all 86 games until manager Brad Ausmus decided to start Don Kelly at first base instead.
"Miggy's earned a day off," Ausmus said. "If you are a regular player, you want a day game off."
Ausmus said that the game coming against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a National League team that Detroit won't battle for playoff positioning, was a factor. Cabrera has hit .286 against Dodgers starter Zack Greinke, who won a Cy Young Award while with the Kansas City Royals.
Cabrera recorded his second three-hit game in six days on Tuesday night, and has 101 three-hit games since joining the Tigers in 2008. He's the first Tiger to reach the century mark in that category over a seven-year span since Hall of Famer Al Kaline did so 104 times, 1955 through 1961, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Cabrera likely will surpass Kaline's total because he's averaging a three-hit performance every 10.2 games for Detroit, and the Tigers have 76 games remaining this season. Cabrera will get seven or eight more this year at that pace.
He already ranks 10th in team history in that category.
When his three-hit tendencies were mentioned to Ausmus, he said, "That's why he hasn't had a day off all year. He's not the type of guy you want out of the lineup."
Cabrera had been the only Tiger to start all 86 games in 2014, and is batting .312 (sixth in the American League) with 14 homers and 70 RBI (tied for second in the majors). Cabrera might fail to win a fourth consecutive batting title and is on pace for fewer than 30 homers for the first time since 2006 as a Florida Marlin. But he's still on a torrid 132-RBI pace.
Victor Martinez was out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game, and for the sixth time in the last nine games with a strained lower right side. He could very well miss the final five games before the All-Star break and end up being replaced on the active AL roster for the game in Minneapolis.
"It's still a consideration," Ausmus said of resting Martinez through the break. "He said he felt a lot better today, and it's a good sign."
Detroit begins a four-game series Thursday night in Kansas City (Tigers Live at 7 and the game at 8 on FOX Sports Detroit), and Ausmus indicated Friday could be the last time Martinez would be considered for playing time until after the four-day break.
"What's the upside of trying to play him Saturday and Sunday (in that case)?" asked Ausmus.
Right fielder Torii Hunter replaced Martinez as the designated hitter on Wednesday and batted in Cabrera's No. 3 spot. J.D. Martinez was in right and batting cleanup.
