LAKELAND, Fla. — It's been three days without Colt Keith.

Keith, a top prospect who signed a long-term contract extension in the offseason, hasn't played in a game since Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I just had the flu," Keith said.

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After three days without playing, Keith expects to return to the Detroit Tigers' starting lineup Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida.

"He's been sick, so we're just going to give him an extra day," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He would play in the regular season. He's just sick. We have a couple of guys that are that way. It's starting to move around the clubhouse."

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Keith, a 22-year-old second baseman, was a full participant in on-field workouts before Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Lakeland. He fielded ground balls during infield drills and swung his bat during batting practice.

In three games, Keith is hitting .375 (3-for-8) with two doubles, four RBIs, zero walks and three strikeouts.

Both doubles occurred on sliders, down-and-away off New York Yankees right-hander Clayton Beeter in his first game and down-and-in off Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in his third game.

"I see sliders really well," Keith said.

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Keith rarely swung at sliders in Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo last season, but when he decided to swing at sliders inside the strike zone, he made contact at an impressive 81.6% clip.

He has a knack for hitting sliders, even in two-strike situations, but he doesn't prioritize sliders.

"I sit fastball, and I really try to buy into it," Keith said, "so anytime I see anything other than a fastball out of the hand, it really pops and I see it better, but for some reason, I hit sliders really well. I'm not really hunting slider, but I sit fastball and was on time being able to adjust."

Kerry Carpenter injury

Outfielder Kerry Carpenter (left hamstring strain) continues to get closer to playing in his first spring training game. The 26-year-old ran the bases on the backfields Friday morning.

He is now completing all baseball activities.

"He's got some tests to pass," Hinch said. "He's doing great, and we are being super conservative in making him do everything twice, whether that's the testing that we're doing all the way to running bases. He's getting close."

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Hinch said he expects Carpenter to play "sooner rather than later," but the skipper also said Carpenter still needs to "pass a few more tests" in his return-to-play progression. When Carpenter returns, he will be the designated hitter for the first couple of games before transitioning to the corner outfield positions.

"He's going to be irritated that it's taking this long," Hinch said. "That's a good thing at this time of the year."

Carpenter, who suffered the hamstring strain Feb. 22 while running the bases, has been taking live batting practice on the backfields, primarily against pitchers from minor-league camp.

"He has more at-bats than most of the guys that are traveling," Hinch said.

Other injury updates

• Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (left groin strain) continues to progress through his return-to-play program with both throwing and running.

• Right-handed reliever Brendan White (right elbow soreness) is scheduled to throw his third bullpen Sunday. He completed his second bullpen Thursday. The 25-year-old reported posterior elbow discomfort in the first week of spring training.

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Pitching schedule

Right-hander Jack Flaherty is scheduled to start Saturday against the Pirates in Lakeland, followed by right-handers Casey Mize and Matt Manning scheduled to work in tandem Sunday against the Yankees in Tampa.

Manning will start Sunday's game.

Mize is expected to enter the game in the fourth inning.

Both Manning and Mize, along with right-hander Reese Olson, are competing for what could be just two openings in the Opening Day starting rotation.

"I'm just taking it day by day," Olson said of the competition after Thursday's start against the Boston Red Sox. "I'm doing what I need to do every day, whether it be a recovery day, just making sure I'm getting my work in, or a bullpen day. I know what I need to do for that day, so I'm focused on that."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why has Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith been out? When will he return?