ARLINGTON, Texas — Detroit Tigers slugger Delmon Young is out of the AL championship series because of an oblique injury.
Infielder Danny Worth replaced Young on the Tigers’ ALCS roster released Saturday before the series opener against defending American League champion Texas.
Young’s injury was described as a mild strain when he left Game 5 of the AL division series against the Yankees on Thursday night. But the way Young brusquely dismissed even the most basic questions Friday fueled questions about his availability for the series against the Rangers.
Young hit .274 with eight homers and 32 RBIs in 40 games for Detroit after being acquired from Minnesota in August. Over five games against the Yankees, the Tigers’ regular No. 3 hitter was 6 for 19 with three home runs. He was the first player in franchise history with three homers in a single postseason series.
Ryan Raburn, who replaced Young in left field on Thursday night, likely will be the starter against the Rangers, who have three left-handed starters in their postseason rotation. The right-handed Raburn went 2 for 5 in the AL division series after hitting .256 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs in 121 games during the regular season.
The injury for Young is on the left side of his abdomen. He missed 19 games with the same injury earlier this season while with Minnesota.
Young said the problem flared up while taking a swing. He didn’t think it was that serious, so he went to the outfield to warm up for the next inning and realized that he couldn’t throw.
Worth hit .270 in 30 games during the regular season and didn’t play in the ALDS against the Yankees.
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