Tigers 2B Polanco uncertain for All-Star Game

Jul 8, 2007 - 4:39 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Detroit Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco may miss Tuesday's All-Star Game with a strained ribcage muscle.

Polanco left Saturday's 3-2, 13-inning win over the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning with a mild right lat strain. The injury occurred during his second at-bat, and he was replaced by Omar Infante.

"It's a day-to-day situation but I feel better today," Polanco said prior to Sunday's contest. "(It feels) a little bit better."

Polanco, nominated for the All-Star Game for the first time, is hitting .335 with three home runs and 38 RBI for the Tigers this season.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland was worried the flight from Detroit to San Francisco may further injure Polanco.

"The only thing that bothers me is that long flight, Leyland said. "It's not a good thing for (the injury) he has. (Trainers) are going to work look crazy on him this morning. Not for today's game, but just to get him comfortable on the plane. Hopefully he'll be OK for Tuesday because this is a big moment for him."

Polanco remains optimistic that he will be able to suit up and play on Tuesday.

"If I can, I can play," Polanco said. "I thought it was going to be worse but I feel a lot better today."