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Chicago • Reigning American League MVP Miguel Cabrera is not in Detroit's lineup for the third straight game Thursday against the Chicago White Sox.

The Tigers third baseman who was baseball's first Triple Crown winner in 45 years last season left Monday's game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a left hip flexor injury. Detroit manager Jim Leyland gave no update Thursday on Cabrera's condition other than to say he's not playing.

Cabrera is hitting a major league-best .358 with 31 home runs and 96 RBIs. Don Kelly is playing third for Detroit and batting seventh.

Without Cabrera in the lineup, Detroit has won two in a row over the White Sox and scored 12 runs.