DETROIT -- The Tigers received some badly needed good news on the injury front Tuesday night, when MRI results on Cameron Maybin's left thumb showed no structural damage, confirming the original diagnosis of a contusion.
Thus, what was feared could be a lengthy absence is expected to be a day-to-day injury, depending on when Maybin can grip a bat again comfortably.
"It's just a matter of letting the contusion heal," manager Brad Ausmus said after Tuesday's 8-4 win over the White Sox.
Maybin was already playing through the remaining pain of a sprained thumb from early August when he re-injured it on a slide at second base Monday night. His thumb was caught between the bag and White Sox shortstop Tyler Saladino's knee.
"He said he could pinch-run today," Ausmus said. "We'll see in terms of swinging a bat. That's really the only thing that concerns me. I'm not really concerned about playing the outfield. He probably could bunt for us if we needed him to right now, but we just have to see how he heals. Probably won't play [Wednesday] with the off-day [Thursday], just give him a couple of days."
Tyler Collins started in Maybin's place Tuesday. JaCoby Jones, who made his Major League debut at third base after being called up from Triple-A Toledo, is also capable of playing center, and he could get a start there with lefty Chris Sale on the mound for Chicago on Wednesday.