Brennan Boesch had a two-run homer and a double Monday as the Marlins and Tigers played to a 3-3 tie.

With four hits the last two days, Boesch is coming on now after a rough start to the spring. He projects as a very solid fantasy outfielder while hitting second in the powerful Tigers lineup.

Brennan Boesch started Thursday and went 0-for-3 against the Orioles.

Boesch was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to general soreness. He played right field today.

Brennan Boesch was scratched from Wednesday's spring game against the Mets due to general soreness.

Boesch reportedly put on a power display during pre-game batting practice, which left him feeling a little beat up. "He hit one up over the scoreboard [in batting practice] and just felt a little tweak," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday. "He's fine. He's just a little sore. I just didn't want to take any chances."

Brennan Boesch homered and doubled Sunday in the rout of the Braves.

Lineup protection is a concept not backed up by much statistical evidence, but whether or not Boesch performs better with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder behind him in the Tigers lineup, he'll certainly be a better fantasy outfielder because of it. He could score a whole mess of runs this season.

Justin Rogers of MLive.com expects Brennan Boesch to benefit the most from Prince Fielder's presence in the Tigers' lineup this season.

Manager Jim Leyland said Thursday that he's planning on using Boesch in front of Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, meaning he could see some of the best offerings of any player in baseball. Rogers notes that Leyland used 127 different lineup combinations in 2011 and that his spot in the order is far from guaranteed. However, if he can replicate the production he had hitting in front of Cabrera last year, Boesch is primed for a monster season.

Brennan Boesch declared himself ready for the start of spring training, after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb in September.

"My off-season timeline was not affected," Boesch said. "I started swinging normally in December. My off-season has gone exactly as it always has." Boesch, 26, hit .283 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 115 games this past season. He is fully expected to re-gain his starting job in right field.

Brennan Boesch has begun rehabilitation and range-of-motion exercises for his surgically-repaired thumb.

Boesch underwent surgery in early September to repair a torn thumb ligament. He's fully expected to be ready by the start of spring training next February. "I'll be healthy by the then," said the outfielder. "It's just time that needs to take place. It's no set thing that you do to recover from this injury other than just motion exercises."

Brennan Boesch is ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Boesch has had the splint on his thumb removed and has begun mobility exercises. "It's ahead of where the doctors said I would be," said Boesch, who had surgery on September 6. The outfielder is expected to be recovered well before players report to spring training.

Tigers placed OF Brennan Boesch on the 15-day disabled list with a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Boesch had season-ending surgery earlier this week, so this was just a formality. By placing the outfielder on the disabled list, the Tigers now have opened up a potential spot on the postseason roster for a September call-up.

Brandon Boesch will have season-ending surgery on his right thumb.

Boesch has struggled with the injury, a third-degree tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, this season, which became more pronounced in the last month when he re-aggravated it. He hadn't started a game since August 24. Boesch ends a solid second year with a .283/.341/.458 slash line and 16 homers and 54 RBI 472 plate appearances.

Brennan Boesch returned to action on Wednesday August 31.

Brennan Boesch (thumb) remains out indefinitely.

Boesch still isn't able to comfortably swing a bat due to the partially torn ligament in his right thumb. He'll eventually need surgery, and could even go under the knife before the 2011 regular season is through. "We're looking at options to get the thumb stable," said trainer Kevin Rand. I"t's going to be an issue the rest of the way. We just have to find a way, if we can, to get it comfortable enough for him to swing a bat. If he can't, then ultimately, it will need to be corrected."

Brennan Boesch (thumb) is out of the lineup for the fifth straight game Monday.

Boesch was scheduled to test his ailing right thumb Monday by swinging a bat. Tigers trainer Kevin Rand believes he will eventually need surgery, though he will obviously attempt to play through the pain for now.

Brennan Boesch missed a fourth straight game Sunday due to lingering discomfort in his right thumb.

Boesch will try swinging a bat on Monday. If he feels any sort of lingering discomfort that might prevent him from returning to the Tigers' lineup within a few days, it's likely that the 26-year-old outfielder will be placed on the disabled list.

The Tigers are worried that Brennan Boesch might be sidelined for a while after he aggravated his right thumb injury earlier this week.

Boesch took himself out of Wednesday's game after pain in the thumb started to run down his right arm. A subsequent exam by team doctors revealed nothing new or more serious than was diagnosed last week, but manager Jim Leyland admitted that Boesch's injury is "gonna be there all year." He'll sit out again on Friday, with his return date completely up in the air at this point.

Brennan Boesch left Wednesday's game against the Rays in the seventh inning after aggravating his right thumb.

Boesch missed nearly a week earlier this month due to a right thumb strain. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said following Wednesday's game that Boesch will not play Thursday. Consider him day-to-day for now.

Brennan Boesch reported no issues with his thumb after making a pinch-hitting appearance Sunday.

It was his first plate appearance since last Wednesday, and he felt just fine. "I didn't know if I'd be used, but I felt good in the cage and was ready," Boesch said. "My thumb didn't affect it at all. I'm very encouraged by the one swing I've taken since I hurt it." The outfielder should be ready to make starts again soon.

Brennan Boesch returned to action on Sunday August 14.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland doesn't expect Brennan Boesch (thumb) to return to the lineup before Tuesday.

"Just a guess, but don't expect him back before Tuesday," the manager said. It sounds like it's not a given that he'll even be back Tuesday. The Tigers haven't given any indication that Boesch might require a DL stint, but it doesn't seem to be off the table at this point, either.

Though the Tigers are considering Brennan Boesch (thumb) day-to-day, they're not sure when he'll be ready to return to the lineup.

Boesch aggravated a right thumb sprain in Thursday's game. It doesn't appear at this point that a trip to the disabled list will be needed, but that could change if he doesn't progress in the next few days.