DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have a new starting second baseman.

The Tigers will recall Carlos Guillen from the disabled list in time for their game Saturday night against the Chicago White Sox.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Guillen would start at second base and would likely bat seventh in the batting order.

"Carlos is a very good veteran player who is feeling good right now," Leyland said. "It'll be good to see him. It'll be good to write his name in the lineup."

General manager Dave Dombrowski said that Guillen has been swinging the bat well for Triple-A Toledo and that he has been playing -- and is prepared to play -- every day.

"We're expecting him to play well for us and contribute offensively," Dombrowski said. "It's up to Jim (Leyland) when he plays him, of course, but we're bringing him back to play second base the majority of the time."

Guillen has been on the disabled list all season following microfracture surgery on his left knee, which can be tough to overcome. Dombrowski admitted that he wasn't always certain Guillen would make it back.

"I didn't know," he said. "I've never really been through this surgery with an infielder. … There's been some ups and downs, as they said there would be. So I really didn't know, but I'm glad to see that it worked out."

The Tigers also recalled relief pitcher Al Alburquerque from the disabled list and sent infielder Danny Worth and relief pitcher Ryan Perry to Triple-A Toledo following their 8-2 loss to the White Sox.

"We like Ryan Perry," Dombrowski said. "He just needs to be more consistent at the major-league level. He hasn't been able to find that groove like he did last year."

Dombrowski hopes Guillen can get into a groove offensively while playing solid defense at second base.

"We know what he is," Dombrowski said. "He catches the ball. He's got real good hands. He can turn the double play. He doesn't have great range, but he catches what he gets to, and he's swinging the bat well. We think he can still swing the bat.

"All reports are that he's swinging the bat well down there."