DETROIT -- Andy Dirks says he’s ready to start playing baseball again.

The Detroit Tigers think so, too.

“Everything is OK today,” manager Jim Leyland said. “It looks like it was pretty good yesterday, too.”

Dirks began a rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday night, starting in center and going 1-for-3 with an RBI single in his first at-bat.

He’s been on the disabled list for nearly two months with a right Achilles injury that he initially suffered in late May. After a couple setbacks that required changes to his treatment, Dirks told reporters Sunday he is finally "ready to play.”

“Right now, it’s good,” he said. “I wouldn’t be going somewhere if I didn’t think I could play. It’s finally getting better, so you know it’s a positive right now.

“But I still have to see how it feels after I start playing games because it’s tough to simulate it.“

Dirks packed his equipment bag in the Tigers’ clubhouse early Sunday and joined the Mud Hens in Toledo as they continued their four-game set against Indianapolis. He will likely travel with the team to Columbus for the Toledo's series opener Tuesday.

He's expected to receive three at-bats and start in the outfield Monday and get three at-bats as the designated hitter in his third rehab game Tuesday.

“We talked about it a little bit,” Dirks said. “I’ll probably start off with a few at-bats -- not jump right into full games -- and then we’ll work into full games.”

He could return to the Tigers at the tail end of their three-game series in Cleveland or rejoin the team in Toronto.

“His will be a little bit longer than most rehabs,” Leyland said.

The Tigers will need to clear a spot on the 25-man roster to accommodate Dirks when he’s able to rejoin the team. In all likelihood, it’ll be utility infielder Danny Worth who will be optioned to Toledo.

“I’m ready to start playing,” Dirks said. “It’s been too long.”

-- Download the "Detroit Tigers on MLive app" for your iPhone or Android and follow Chris Iott and James Schmehl on Twitter to keep up with news on the Tigers.