The Detroit Tigers open up a crucial three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday night, and will officially welcome back leadoff hitter Austin Jackson after the outfielder missed the last four games with an abdominal injury.
Tigers officials were originally mum on whether Jackson would take the field against Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez for Tuesday's opener or not, but director of media relations Brian Britten eventually broke the news on Twitter roughly two hours before game time.
Tonight's lineup: Jackson 8, Dirks 7, Cabrera 5, Fielder 3, Young dh, Boesch 9, Peralta 6, Avila 2, Santiago 4. Porcello is starting.
— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) May 22, 2012
Jackson, who is hitting .331 with five home runs and 17 RBI after just 36 games, has raised his on base percentage nearly one hundred points compared to last season (from .317 to .414) and appears to be a lock for a career year. He will assume his usual spot atop the order after the four-game absence, and should benefit from a bit more protection now that No. 2 hitter Andy Dirks has emerged as an everyday starter.
Tigers
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Andy Dirks - LF
3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Delmon Young - DH
6. Brennan Boesch - RF
7. Jhonny Peralta - SS
8. Alex Avila - C
9. Ramon Santiago - 2B
Rick Porcello - SP
Indians
1. Shin-Soo Choo - RF
2. Jason Kipnis - 2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera - SS
4. Travis Hafner - DH
5. Carlos Santana - C
6. Michael Brantley - CF
7. Johnny Damon - LF
8. Casey Kotchman - 1B
9. Jose Lopez - 3B
Ubaldo Jimenez - SP
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