CLEVELAND -- Austin Jackson needed to be shut down after taking batting practice before Tuesday's series opener against Cleveland.

That appeared to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

The Detroit Tigers will purchase the contract of Quintin Berry from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday in an effort to address the team's need for speed.

"That's one of the reasons we're making the move to bring him up," manager Jim Leyland said. "To put him in center field and give us a little more speed out there."

It's a needed service while Jackson continues to recover from a left abdominal strain that sidelined him for the fifth straight game Tuesday.

To make room for Berry on the 40-man roster, the Tigers will designate right-handed reliever Collin Balester for assignment. He had a 6.50 ERA, carrying a 12:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 innings this year.

Balester was acquired from the Washington Nationals this offseason in exchange right-handed reliever Ryan Perry. He is out of options and will need to clear waivers before if he is to be assigned to a Detroit affiliate.

Berry is batting .270 with 11 RBIs and a team-leading 19 stolen bases in 39 games for the Mud Hens.

"He's got real good speed and he's a real good defender," Leyland said. "He can bunt for a base hit and he can run real well. Hopefully, he can hit some balls in the hole and beat it out."

-- Follow James Schmehl on Twitter: @jamesschmehl.