Andy Dirks (knee) is not expected to return to the starting lineup until Saturday. Dirks is dealing with some knee soreness, so Tigers manager Jim Leyland is trying to keep him off his feet. He was out of the lineup Wednesday and will sit out again Friday following Thursday's scheduled off-day. "He's going to get three days off, and that's a good thing," said Leyland. "I think his knees are a little sore. He will have today off, obviously tomorrow off -- we're all off -- and then the first pitcher in Minnesota's a left-hander, so that should freshen him up good. That works out good."