Austin Jackson

Austin Jackson (abdomen) may not be able to return to the lineup by Tuesday.

He’s missed four straight games since suffering a mild abdominal strain on a swing Wednesday night. Jackson has participated in pre-game drills the past few days and will be re-evaluated on Monday. “When I went to run, you know, try to get up to 80 percent at least, it didn’t feel that good,” Jackson said Sunday. “It was still kind of hurting to run, so that’s why I’m thinking maybe a couple more days.” Detroit opens a three-game set with Cleveland Tuesday and Jackson is still aiming to be in the lineup that day.

Austin Jackson (abdomen) is not in the lineup for the fourth straight game Sunday.

Jackson is feeling better and was able to take a few swings in batting practice Saturday, but he’s not quite ready to return to the lineup. It does appear that he’s close to returning to action, though. Don Kelly is getting another start in center field Sunday.

Austin Jackson said Thursday, a day after he suffered an abdominal strain, that the injury was “still pretty much the same” and that “there is a lot more room for it to improve.”

Jackson expressed hope that he could return to the lineup in a day or two, but in order for that to happen, it sounds like he’ll need to feel a dramatic improvement in a hurry. “I’m not sure,” Jackson said when asked if sitting out another day would be enough. “I have to see how it feels every day. There is a lot more room for it to improve. It’s still pretty much the same.”

Austin Jackson (ab strain) is not in Thursday’s lineup.

Jackson suffered a mild abdominal strain on a fifth-inning swing Wednesday night and could be out for a little while. Don Kelly is leading off and playing center field in Thursday’s series finale against the Twins.

Updating an earlier item, Austin Jackson left Wednesday’s game in the fifth inning with mild abdominal strain.

It’s about as good as Tigers fans could hope for, as Jackson is being considered day-to-day. We wouldn’t be surprised if he’s given a precautionary MRI, though, and will likely sit out at least a day or two. Don Kelly took his spot in center field Wednesday.

Austin Jackson left Wednesday’s game in the fifth inning with an undisclosed injury.

Jackson grimaced after making a swing in the fourth inning, so it might be an oblique injury. We’ll update his status when more is known. Don Kelly took his spot in center field.

Austin Jackson had a three-run homer, a triple and a walk Tuesday against the White Sox.

Jackson won’t be a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year in the AL, but he might be the circuit’s most improved player. Not only is he hitting .323 with good power, but his 29/20 K/BB ratio in 133 at-bats is a big step forward from his previous marks.

Austin Jackson is not in the Tigers’ lineup Saturday.

It’s just a regular day of rest for Jackson, who is batting .320 with four homers, 12 RBI and five steals in a scorching start to the 2012 season. Don Kelly will fill in out in center and hit leadoff against the A’s.

Austin Jackson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday’s win over the White Sox.

Jackson’s fourth home run of the season was a first-inning job off of Dylan Axelrod. The bomb was his first since April 21. As streaky as they come, Jackson has now logged three multi-hit games in his first six May contests after ending April in a 10-for-51 (.196) slump.