KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Designated hitter Victor Martinez was out of the starting lineup for the fourth straight game Thursday, throwing into question his availability for next week’s All-Star game.
Martinez is on the American League roster for the Midsummer Classic.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said before Thursday’s game in Kansas City that no decision has been made on whether to sit Martinez for the entire four-game series. If that were to happen, the slugger would almost certainly be ruled out of participating at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Martinez has missed seven of the past 10 games with a strained lower right side. Torii Hunter replaced him at DH with Don Kelly in right field for the Tigers’ opener against the Royals.
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