Jackson unable to start Sunday: Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Pirates for a fourth straight game due to an abdominal injury. Don Kelly once again got the start in center field for Detroit. Jackson is day to day. (Updated 05/20/2012)
Injury Report
Abdomen - Questionable for May 22 at Cleveland (Updated - 5/20/12)
Fantasy Analysis
The Tigers continue to anticipate Jackson returning to the lineup and not needing a stint on the 15-day DL, but the longer he sits out, then the more concerning this injury becomes. Unless we hear a positive report by Monday's lineup deadline, then Jackson heads into Week 8 (May 21-27) as an injury-risk start. Jackson is enjoying a spectacular start to the 2012 season and worth starting in all Fantasy formats when healthy. (Updated 05/20/2012).
05/20/2012 19:47 Hit Parade for Week 8
Some catchers have been bitten by the injury bug in recent days, leaving some owners scrambling. Our Scott White shares some recommendations and helps set your lineups for Week 8 in his Hit Parade.
05/20/2012 16:15 Scherzer K's 15 as Tigers rally by Bucs
Max Scherzer struck out 15 -- the most by a Detroit pitcher in 40 years -- and the Tigers rallied for him with three runs in the seventh inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Sunday.
05/18/2012 21:53 Verlander's near no-hitter carries Tigers
Justin Verlander came within two outs of his third career no-hitter, allowing only Josh Harrison's ninth-inning single in the Detroit Tigers' 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
05/16/2012 20:06 Austin Jackson is on the who's hot list
Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson is on the who's hot list. The Fantasy Baseball 360 crew has the details.
Whether fairly or unfairly, Austin Jackson's Fantasy stock took a hit in 2011. After batting .293 as a rookie in 2010 and seemingly living up to the promise that made him the key piece in the Curtis Granderson deal a couple years ago, he slumped to .249 last year. Some Fantasy owners would consider it a disappointment, but given his exceptionally high strikeout total, a regression to the mean is the more accurate way to describe it. The good news is Jackson again had more than 20 steals and demonstrated some ability to drive the ball, more than doubling his homers from the previous year and hitting an AL-best 11 triples. The raw tools -- such as his speed and developing power -- are what make him so intriguing in Fantasy, but until he refines his approach, he'll remain just a fringe contributor. You shouldn't expect Jackson to improve by leaps and bounds at age 25, but as long as he lasts until the late rounds, his upside makes him worth a flier. If nothing else, you know he has job security as the only viable center fielder in Detroit. (Updated 1/5/12)