DETROIT -- The Tigers enter this weekend's division clash against the Royals without Justin Upton. The slugging left fielder has been placed on the bereavement list.
The bereavement list allows players to leave the team to attend to a death or serious illness in the family. By rule, a player placed on the bereavement list must stay there for at least three days but for no more than seven.
The Tigers have recalled outfielder Tyler Collins from Triple-A Toledo to replace Upton on the roster.
The Tigers are already down a starting outfielder with J.D. Martinez on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured elbow. Steven Moya has been filling in for Martinez for the past few weeks, and he is expected to do so for the foreseeable future as Martinez begins baseball activity.
Upton was hitting .235 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs entering the All-Star break. He was hitting .250 with five homers and 21 RBIs in the Tigers' last 30 games.
Collins, who had just two hits in 20 at-bats over 10 games for the Tigers earlier this season, was hitting .214 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 68 games with Toledo.
He said he has spent a lot of time trying to relax on the field and trust his abilities.
"That was probably the biggest shuffle, just trusting myself," Collins said.
Collins said he's not sure whether he was pushing too hard or just needed a bit of an attitude adjustment.
"Whatever it was, it's gone," he said. "That's in the past. Whether it was good or bad, it's over. I'm ready to keep playing."
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he likes Collins' intensity, but he needs to learn to harness it and not let his emotions get the best of him.
"I hate to say someone tries too hard, but sometimes he only has one speed, and that's full speed," Ausmus said. "Sometimes I think backing off in baseball is better."