Kyle Finnegan is one step closer to returning to the Detroit Tigers .

The 34-year-old — a right-handed reliever acquired from the Washington Nationals at the July 31 trade deadline — is beginning a rehab assignment Thursday, Sept. 18, with Triple-A Toledo. He has been sidelined since Sept. 1 with a right adductor strain.

It's unclear how many rehab games Finnegan needs to pitch with the Mud Hens before the Tigers activate him from the injured list, but he will pitch one inning in Thursday's outing. NO WORRIES: Tigers keep stumbling, don't feel 'pressure' with AL Central crown in sight

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Before the injury, Finnegan posted a 3.21 ERA with 17 walks and 51 strikeouts across 53⅓

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