Infante, Downs set to go on rehab assignments

CHICAGO -- Omar Infante is on his way to West Michigan for a rehab assignment with the Tigers' Class A club, and reliever Darin Downs will be joining him.

Infante has been on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ankle sustained on July 3, and the Tigers were waiting to check with him on Tuesday to see if he was ready to make the trip. The Whitecaps confirmed on their Twitter account Tuesday evening that Infante would play Wednesday and Thursday, and Downs would pitch Thursday.

Infante said he's "almost there," but he wants to be able to take batting practice, field grounders and run at full speed. He expects the rehab stint to only last a few days.

"If everything's OK today, he's going to depart for West Michigan tomorrow, because they're home," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "And if he thinks he's OK and everything, he could possibly join us this weekend. That's the scenario we're hoping for."

Leyland said the Tigers primarily wanted to see how Infante would feel Tuesday after a full day of moving around and taking ground balls Monday.

Downs is on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his left rotator cuff.