Javier Báez (ankle) taking live batting practice

The 33-year-old has been terrific since returning from the injured list, slashing .333/.362/.378 with eight RBI in 47 plate appearances in his first 11 games while playing stellar defense at several positions. They’ll get him a breather in this one though, even with an opposing left-hander starting on the hill in Sean Newcomb.

Báez suffered a high ankle sprain at the end of April, so he has spent the vast majority of the season on the injured list. He’ll be off the injured list and right into the lineup, playing center field and batting ninth against the Orioles. The 33-year-old has a .256/.280/.397 slash line in 82 plate appearances this season.

He’ll then get a day off on Friday and if all is well, he’ll have his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Toledo for the remainder of the weekend. Báez has been shelved since late April due to a high-grade ankle sprain but is finally making tangible strides toward a return. Barring any setbacks, it’s possible that he rejoins the Tigers before the end of July.

Báez will head to Low-A Lakeland to kick off his rehab assignment. He’ll likely need a couple weeks to get back up to speed as he works his way back from a high-grade ankle sprain that put him on the injured list back in late April.

The 33-year-old has struggled to make progress in his recovery from a high-grade ankle sprain that has shelved him since the end of April. He’s not expected to return until after the All-Star break, so this move doesn’t alter his timeline at all.

It technically won’t qualify as a setback, but Báez wasn’t progressing as initially hoped from a high-grade ankle sprain. He received the recommendation to take some time off during a visit with a specialist last week. It sounds like he’s going to be out until after next month’s All-Star break based on his current trajectory.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Báez will receive an additional medical opinion on his injured right ankle, which isn’t healing as quickly as originally hoped. The 33-year-old hit the shelf with a high-grade ankle sprain back on April 29. The big concern here is that Báez will require ankle surgery, which would require an extended absence. There should be an update on his status and next steps at some point later this week.

Báez is on the injured list with a right ankle sprain, so while it’s nice to see him hitting, the bigger hurdle to overcome is his running progressions. As of now, there is still no timeline for his return.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Báez is dealing with a high-grade ankle sprain and didn’t offer a definitive return timetable. It’s an extremely encouraging diagnosis after Báez appeared to suffer a serious right leg injury during Tuesday’s game against the Braves on an awkward slide into first base while trying to avoid a tag. The 33-year-old underwent an MRI that didn’t reveal any structural damage, but is still going to miss at least a couple weeks, if not longer. It’ll be Wenceel Pérez taking over in center field during his absence. There’s a chance the Tigers decide to bring up top prospect Max Clark at some point in the near future if they decide he’s finally ready.

“That one looked scary,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters after Báez was carted off the field during Tuesday’s game against the Braves following an awkward feet-first slide into first base attempting to avoid a tag. The fact that there isn’t an immediate update from the club following the contest suggests that Báez is probably dealing with a serious injury. There should be some clarity on his status at some point soon. Any sort of extended absence would likely open the door for top prospect Max Clark to take over in center field.