Tigers To Activate Nick Castellanos, Will Be Available Tonight
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
In desperate need of a late-season spark, the Tigers will activate Nick Castellanos form the disabled list prior to tonight's game against the Indians.
The third baseman has been out since Aug. 6 since breaking a bone in his left hand against the Mets.
Ken Rosenthal first reported the news, indicating that Castellanos is likely to return to the Tigers lineup tomorrow. Brad Ausmus has since clarified that Castellanos will be in Detroit tonight and will be available off the bench.
He had been rehabbing at the team's spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla. and participating in Instructional League games.
With the Tigers two games out of the second wild card with six games to go, Castellanos figures to give them a boost. He was in the midst of a career year when he went down, hitting .286 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI. His replacements, meanwhile, have been a collective black hole at the plate.
Whether Castellanos can pick up where he left off remains to be seen, but he is an immediate offensive upgrade over Detroit's alternatives at third base.
The Tigers have three games remaining against the Indians before they close things out in Atlanta with a three-game series against the Braves. On the outside of the playoff race looking in, they need all the help they can get.
Castellanos, flying from Florida to Detroit, can't arrive soon enough.