The Detroit Tigers seek to reclaim the American League Central after finishing in the cellar last year, but an injury to Justin Upton's quad may set them back in the short term.
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Upton Out of Monday's Game
Monday, May 23
Jason Beck of MLB.com noted Upton has "right quad tightness" and won't start Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Upton was one of Detroit's big offseason acquisitions—starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann was also signed away from Washington—and signed to help add depth in the middle of a lineup that already included Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez.
The Tigers also needed to get younger, as Cabrera, Kinsler and Victor Martinez are all 33 or older. Upton, despite being in the big leagues since 2007, is just 28 years old. He's also been durable, playing at least 149 games every season since 2011.
There were early struggles for Upton as he played in the AL for the first time. He had just one home run in his first 18 games, as well as 31 strikeouts in his first 73 at-bats. He only has two home runs on the campaign and is hitting .223.
Upton's only significant injury was a strained oblique in 2010 that caused him to miss most of September. His past ability to remain healthy certainly made him an attractive option to the Tigers, but his absence will test their lack of outfield depth.
Steven Moya and Mike Aviles both have the ability to handle left field on a short-term basis, though neither one can come close to matching Upton's offensive upside.
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