Sidelined since the start of August with a sprained thumb, Ryan Raburn is now on the mend, headed to Triple-A Toledo Wednesday to start an injury rehabilitation assignment, the Tigers announced Tuesday morning.

That could put him in line to rejoin the team when rosters expand in two weeks.

Even should he, however, it's uncertain what role he'd have. Raburn started just five (and played in only nine) of 19 possible games between the All-Star break and the end of July.

Two of his three appearances after the July 24 acquisition of everyday second baseman Omar Infante were in a pinch-hitting capacity. Even that role might now be gone, considering the waiver trade that brought Jeff Baker to the Tigers to provide pop off the bench against left-handed starters — the role that Raburn was expected to fill.

For the season, Raburn was hitting .172 with 14 doubles and 12 RBI, and with an OPS (on-base percentage, plus slugging percentage) of .483.