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Detroit Tigers place Cabrera on DL with strained calf

By Dana Gauruder, The Sports Xchange

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus shook up his lineup to get more offense on Friday. Now, he'll need to change his lineup with Triple Crown centerpiece Miguel Cabrera out of the mix for an extended period.

The Tigers placed Cabrera, the two-time American League MVP, on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career Saturday.

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Cabrera, who is batting a league-leading .350 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs, was diagnosed with a Grade 3 left calf strain and is expected to miss six weeks.

The first baseman left Friday night's 8-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning when he strained his left calf while breaking for second base on an attempted hit-and-run. Cabrera pulled up running from first as designated hitter Victor Martinez fouled off a pitch.

Cabrera had an MRI, which showed no injury to his Achilles tendon, but Ausmus is pessimistic about a quick recovery.

"I was concerned. When Miggy says he can't play, it's serious, because Miggy plays through anything," Ausmus said Friday night.

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Cabrera has battled a number of injuries in recent seasons and had ankle surgery after last season. But he has been the picture of health this year, sitting out only two day games to get a breather.

"You've got to find ways to win without him. We've done it in the past," catcher Alex Avila said. "There's been stretches over the years where he's had to sit because we were trying to get him healthy for the end of the year. I remember a few years ago where he sat out a week, week-and-a-half, and we went like 8-2 without him. We've just got to pick it up by the bootstraps and find a way to do it."

Ausmus tried to spark the offense with some changes, moving Ian Kinsler to the leadoff spot and Yoenis Cespedes from the No. 5 spot to No. 2. He dropped Anthony Gose from the top spot to No. 8.

The lineup produces eight runs Friday, the biggest output since June 22. Ausmus wouldn't reveal what he'd do without Cabrera but hot-hitting J.D. Martinez is a candidate to take his usual No. 3 spot in the order.

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"It's big," Martinez said of losing Cabrera. "He's the anchor in our lineup. He, in my eyes, is the best hitter in baseball. A lineup that doesn't have the best hitter, that doesn't have him in it, it's going to hurt."

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