Worth's value increasing with Iglesias out

VIERA, Fla. -- Danny Worth has long been the man with the odds against him in Spring Training. He spent the last two camps performing well enough to earn a roster spot in many estimations, but was blocked on the roster by Ramon Santiago.

Now Santiago is gone, but with Steve Lombardozzi on board, Worth doesn't have a utility job to win. But with Jose Iglesias now out, he could have a timeshare to earn at shortstop. He might still be squeezed out of an opportunity if the Tigers can't open a 40-man roster spot for him. For now, though, he's making another tough case.

Worth didn't start Sunday's game against the Nationals, but his eighth-inning RBI double in his only at-bat raised his average to an even .300 (9-for-30), to go with four doubles and seven RBIs. He added a steal of third base.

He has played well enough to catch the attention of general manager Dave Dombrowski, who has had to help make the tough call to send him down at the end of the previous two camps.

"Whenever he seems to get the opportunity, something's happened," Dombrowski said. "But he's healthy this spring, he's swinging the bat fine and we know he can catch the ball and play defense."

Worth did make a fielding error, his second this spring. But it was at first base, not at shortstop.