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Detroit second baseman Omar Infante is scheduled to play two games for the Whitecaps, who have not hosted a Detroit player since Carlos Guillen in 2010.

(AP file photo)

COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Detroit Tigers second baseman Omar Infante, who has been on the disabled list with a sore left ankle, is expected to be in the lineup for the West Michigan Whitecaps on Wednesday to start a two-game rehabilitation assignment at Fifth Third Ballpark.

In addition, Tigers reliever Darin Downs is scheduled to pitch one inning of relief on Thursday.

The Whitecaps made the announcement Tuesday evening.

Infante, who is hitting .309 with six homers and 27 RBIs this season, is due to be the designated hitter on Wednesday and possibly play second on Thursday when the Whitecaps host Fort Wayne as part of a three-game homestand that concludes Friday.

The Whitecaps announced that gates for Wednesday and Thursday games will open at 4 p.m.

Infante was placed on the DL on July 9, retroactive to July 4, after he was hit hard on a slide into second by Toronto’s Colby Rasmus.

Darin Downs

Downs went on the DL on July 7 with tendinitis in his left shoulder rotator cuff. He is 0-2 with a 5.18 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 33 innings pitched.

Detroit is playing in Chicago through Thursday before heading to Comerica Park on Friday when Philadelphia arrives.

When Infante was injured, the Tigers recalled former Whitecaps Hernan Perez from Double-A Erie. With the Tigers he is hitting .118 in six games, alternating with Ramon Santiago.

The 31-year-old Infante, in his 12th season, will have a second stint with the Whitecaps. As an 18-year-old, he played in 12 games for the Whitecaps in 2000 and hit .229.

He came to Detroit, along with pitcher Anibal Sanchez one year ago today from Miami in exchange for pitcher Jacob Turner and catcher Rob Brantly. He previously played his first six seasons in the majors with the Tigers, beginning in 2002.

The Whitecaps have had 10 members of the Tigers rehab with the team, including Brandon Inge twice. The most recent was second baseman Carlos Guillen, who played two games with the Whitecaps on Aug. 6-7, 2010. He went 2-for-2 with a walk in the two games.

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