Miguel Cabrera exits Tigers game with hip flexor injury

Tigers star Miguel Cabrera left Monday night's game with an apparent injury. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera left Monday

Tigers star Miguel Cabrera left Monday night's game with an apparent injury. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera left Monday night's game against the Chicago White Sox with a sore left hip flexor muscle, the team announced. The third baseman exited with one of the Tigers trainers in the fifth inning Monday night.

Cabrera has been dealing with a back injury above his left hip for a while now, which could explain the injury. Tigers beat writer Chris Iott reports more on the circumstances that led him to be replaced:

He appeared to wince after scoring a run in the top of the fifth, then barely moved when Adam Dunn singled to his right in to lead off the bottom of the inning. One out later, Cabrera walked off the field along with head athletic trainer Kevin Rand.

Don Kelly replaced Cabrera at third base.

CORCORAN: Goldschmidt, Cabrera atop MVP races

Needless to say, losing Cabrera for any extended amount of time would be a significant burden for the Tigers. He came into Monday's game ranking first or second in all three Triple Crown categories. He was batting .358 with 31 homers, 96 RBIs and a 1.120 OPS.

The Tigers currently lead the Cleveland Indians by 1.5 games in the American League Central standings.

Miguel Cabrera left tonight's game with a sore left hip flexor muscle. #Tigers

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 23, 2013