Minneapolis – Manager Brad Ausmus remains optimistic that the left side of his infield will be back intact by mid-September.
But, even with shortstop Jose Iglesias expected to be activated Friday, evidence is mounting to the contrary.
Third baseman Nick Castellanos, who was running the stairs at Target Field early Thursday morning, is still unable to do any baseball activity other than throwing. He has been out since Aug. 6 with a non-displaced fracture of the left metacarpal bone on his left hand.
The timeframe for recovery for that injury is generally four to seven weeks – though the Tigers did not give a specific time frame.