Miggy in lineup with Triple Crown on the line

Miguel Cabrera was penciled into today's lineup by manager Jim Leyland against the Royals as the Tigers third baseman tries to post Major League Baseball's first Triple Crown season in 45 years.

Cabrera entered play today leading the American League in batting average (.331), home runs (44) and RBIs (139). Texas' Josh Hamilton was one homer shy of Cabrera entering play Wednesday afternoon.

Cabrera still can be scratched prior to tonight's game, which begins at 8:05 ET in Kansas City. The potential Triple Crown season would be the first since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski accomplished the feat in 1967.

The Tigers had another noteworthy lineup change in their season finale against the Royals: right-hander Max Scherzer, who twisted his ankle in Monday's division-clinching celebration, was slated to start.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday the righty would not start because of the swollen ankle, which Leyland didn't term as serious at the time.