DETROIT -- The hip injury that has bothered Jose Cabrera for most of the season flared up again Tuesday. The Tigers slugger left the 5-3 victory over the Giants with left hip tightness.
Both Cabrera and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus characterized the move as precautionary. Cabrera said he's hopeful to play Wednesday night in the second game of the series.
"I'd be shocked if he wasn't available tomorrow," Ausmus said.
Cabrera said he felt tightness in the hip before the game, but that it worsened as the game went on. He was moving well for the early part of the game, going from first to third base on a Victor Martinez single to set up a Nicholas Castellanos sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

Ausmus said Cabrera told him about the hip before his at-bat in the sixth. Once he flied out to center field, they agreed it was best to take him out. Andrew Romine replaced Cabrera at first base for the seventh.
The Tigers have five games left before the All-Star break, including a crucial three-game series at Cleveland this weekend. Cabrera was not selected to next week's All-Star Game, so he'll have four days next week to rest the hip, groin and foot ailments that have slowed him at different times this season. The question will be whether he can play the rest of the week.
The health issues have taken their toll on Cabrera at the plate. He's batting .263 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 69 games. He spent 10 days on the disabled list in April with a groin strain.