If there are no further setbacks, look for Marcus Thames to be back in the middle of the Tigers’ lineup on Sunday.     
        Thames, who hasn’t played since April 18 in Seattle because of a lingering painful muscle strain in his rib cage, is currently on rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, trying to swing his way back into hitting shape.
        Even though Thames was only batting .222 with no home runs and just two RBI when  he was hurt, with four enemy left handers on the horizon next week the Tigers are hoping Marcus could provide  the influx of right handed power that their struggling offense needs.
        “If Marcus Thames is swinging like Marcus Thames, he can be a big help to us,” Jim Leyland said Wednesday.
        In nine games with Toledo, Thames, a constant home run threat, is batting .263 with a homer and five RBI.
        Beginning Sunday with the Los Angeles Angels’ Joe Saunders, the Tigers expect to see four left-handed starters, including Chicago’s Mark Buehrle, John Danks, and Clayton Richard, in five days next week. “Marcus would be a big right handed bat for us,” Leyland said.
        When Thames is activated, Jeff Larish will likely be sent to Toledo.
        Meanwhile, the outlook is not so good for left fielder Carlos Guillen, who has on the disabled list May 5 because of an injured shoulder. Guillen and Leyland are both resigned to the fact that his absence may be more long-term. “It sounds like it will be a while,” the manager said.
        “From what they tell me, he has a pretty worn shoulder,” Leyland explained Wednesday. “He has a pretty used shoulder that’s been roughed up a little bit.”
        For his part, Guillen has grown increasingly frustrated.
        The 33-year-old Guillen, who was hampered last season by sore knees and a bad back, is signed through 2011. He is the fifth highest-paid Tiger, making $10 million this year. Guillen is guaranteed $13 million in both 2010 and 201l.
        The Tigers are already on the hook for the $13.6 million remaining on Gary Sheffield’s contract this year.
        By the way, in 43 games with the New York Mets, Sheffield, who was released by the Tigers at the end of spring training in order to allow Thames and Guillen as well as Magglio Ordonez to serve as the  DH,  is hitting .282 with five HR and 20 RBI.
        Hmmmmmm.