Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera leaves Friday’s game with leg injury

After a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers fans probably didn’t think it could get any worse.

But it just did.

First baseman Miguel Cabrera came up lame while running to second base from first on a 3-2 pitch to Victor Martinez during the fourth inning of Friday’s game versus the Blue Jays. Fox Sports Detroit reported Cabrera was diagnosed with a left calf strain.

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He could barely walk off the field, limping next to the trainer very slowly to the dugout. Cabrera will undergo an MRI in order to determine the severity of the injury.

Losing Cabrera for any length of time would be a huge blow for the Detroit Tigers. The first baseman is slashing .350/.456/.578 with 15 home runs, 54 RBI and 43 runs in 277 at-bats this season. He was 2-for-2 on Friday and with Jason Kipnis starting his game on Friday 0-for-3, Cabrera re-took the batting title lead in the American League.

That, however, isn’t as important as Detroit’s cause. The Tigers are just 39-39 this season and came into Friday six games behind the Kansas City Royals for first place in the AL Central. Detroit needs their No. 3 hitter in order to be serious contenders in the division race.

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