Keith (right rib cage) hopeful to contribute to Tigers in ALDS

SEATTLE -- The music blared as Colt Keith stepped to the plate at T-Mobile Park and stared out to the pitcher. It was the type of October scene the Tigers infielder would’ve dreamed about all summer as he slowly took on more importance in Detroit’s lineup in his sophomore season.

But the pitcher was teammate Chris Paddack, and the scene was a live batting practice session during Friday’s workout before the American League Division Series begins Saturday.

But if Keith has any chance to take hacks against Mariners pitching this weekend, he had to show he could take his swings against teammates Friday.

“Get myself prepared to contribute to the team again so they can make a decision,” said Keith, currently trying to make his way back from right rib cage inflammation.

Keith spent the week with the team in Cleveland during its Wild Card Series doing pregame workouts, steadily progressing to more activity and more intensity each day. Friday was his first simulation of game activity as the Tigers try to ramp him up without the benefit of a Minor League rehab assignment.

“Kind of just seeing how low we can get the symptoms down,” Keith said, “just adding things every day, running, some fielding stuff, some throwing stuff and see where it takes us, see if this week's an opportunity for me.”

The potential of getting Keith back in even a limited capacity is big. His left-handed impact bat presents the threat for favorable matchups against Seattle’s righty-heavy pitching staff. The Tigers' primary lineup against Cleveland’s right-handed starters in the Wild Card Series left shortstop Trey Sweeney as their lone lefty hitter on the bench; Sweeney, who batted .196 for Detroit in the regular season, went unused in the series.

To be that threat, however, Keith has to make sure he can swing without being limited by the injury, which he described as a dull ache.

“We're trying to get that down and go from there,” Keith said, “because I think the thing I can do to help this team is with my swing.”

• Tigers-Mariners ALDS Game 1 FAQ

The Tigers have until Saturday morning to set their 26-man roster for the series. Manager A.J. Hinch said they’ll again go with 14 position players and 12 pitchers.

“We're likely to take as much time as we have allotted to us to make the final decision,” Hinch said.

Vierling joins team in Seattle

Keith wasn’t the only injured Tigers hitter taking live batting practice. Matt Vierling, out since Aug. 10 with a left oblique strain, took his swings after joining the team on Friday. He spent most of the last couple weeks in Toledo with more than a dozen Triple-A players that the Tigers asked to stick around after the Mud Hens season ended to stay ready in case of injury.

The Tigers missed Vierling’s presence in the outfield for much of the year. He spent nearly two months on the injured list with a rotator cuff strain, played in just four games before suffering a setback that cost him another month, then finally returned at the start of July. The Tigers have been covered for right-handed hitting by Jahmai Jones, Andy Ibáñez and Justyn-Henry Malloy, but only Ibáñez plays in the field with regularity.

Could Tigers signal for Horn?

Lefty reliever Bailey Horn also joined the Tigers at T-Mobile Park after being back in Toledo. He’s healthy, but he wasn’t eligible for the Wild Card Series, having been optioned to Triple-A on Sept. 19. The Tigers could’ve used his services against Cleveland’s left-handed hitters, but the Mariners present more of a right-handed lineup.

“Bailey's here in the event we want to carry three lefties,” Hinch said. “We needed to have him here as opposed to across the country.”