DETROIT -- The Tigers made a move on the weekend leading up to Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, but not quite the one everyone has been expecting. Outfielder Alex Presley was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday with a right side strain.
Outfielder Jim Adduci was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take his place.
Presley has been one of the bright spots in the Tigers' outfield, batting .313 (31-for-99) with six doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs and a .769 OPS in 34 games. However, he tweaked his lower oblique on a swing last week and tried to play through it. The injury worsened to the point that he underwent an MRI on Saturday to rule out anything more serious than a strain.
"It's funny, I look at it now and the [pitches] I got hits on were low-velocity. I didn't feel I had to ramp up as much," Presley said. "I kept trying to play and play, and it wasn't getting any better over time. Every time I played, it felt like I took a step back. A lefty would pitch and I wouldn't play; I'd come back and it would feel a little better, and then it grabs. It's one of those things where they just want to try to knock it out."
Presley had a similar injury three years ago that did get worse. He ended up missing two months with the Astros in the summer of 2014 with a right oblique strain.
At the very least, Presley needs a few days off to rest the injury this time. With the Tigers down to three reserve position players, that would've left them further short-handed. Thus, the decision to move Presley to the DL.
"You have to have that third player there," manager Brad Ausmus said.

Adduci had his own encouraging start derailed by an oblique injury in mid-May, costing him six weeks on the DL before he was optioned to Toledo. He returned to the Tigers for five days last week before being sent back to Toledo to make room for Drew VerHagen as an extra pitcher.
It's the third time Adduci has been called up this season, but the first time when the Tigers and Mud Hens have both been at home. His previous two trips to the Tigers this season required a flight and a connection; this time he simply drove up Interstate 75.