Polanco could return tonight
“Polanco’s swinging as we speak,” Leyland said.
Placido Polanco, the indispensable second baseman, said afterward that he felt good — but apparently not good enough. He missed a second consecutive start with an abdominal strain.
As on Sunday night, Omar Infante replaced him in the field, and leftfielder Craig Monroe moved to No. 2 in the batting order.
Polanco, though, expressed optimism that he will return to the lineup tonight, for the second of three games against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. “I feel pretty confident,” he said.
Polanco sustained the injury in Saturday’s loss to Cleveland, when he stopped hard after rounding third base. He reiterated Monday that he will not need to be placed on the disabled list — a good sign for Detroit, which went 14-21 while he was out with a separated shoulder last year.