August has taken a toll on some critical players in the AL Central. Here's a look at the key injuries suffered in the past week:
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Indians: They added Jay Bruce in a trade with the Mets, to bolster their offense just in time. Jason Kipnis, who missed a month after straining his right hamstring in July, felt a recurrence of the same injury Thursday. Kipnis wasn't immediately returned to the DL, but his heart-of-the-order hitting would be a big loss.
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Royals: Trevor Cahill, acquired from the Padres at the deadline, went on the DL with a shoulder impingement after three disappointing starts. But All-Star catcher Salvador Perez's intercostal injury is having a far bigger impact, and it's probably going to last another 2-4 weeks.
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Tigers: His injury amounted to only "tingling" in his fingers, but Detroit sent righthander Michael Fulmer, 2016's AL Rookie of the Year, to orthopedist Dr. James Andrews to make sure his elbow is intact. No surgery will be needed, doctors decided, just rest. Fulmer is eager to return, perhaps as soon as Monday.
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