DETROIT -- Brad Ausmus looked different in Angels red as he sat in the visitors' dugout at Comerica Park and talked with reporters. His quick wit and dry sense of humor, though, still fit him well.

When a reporter pointed out that the former Tigers manager still receives a heavy amount of blame from fans for the team’s slide after four consecutive American League Central titles, Ausmus was ready with a response.

“You can keep blaming me,” he said. “It makes it easier.”

The last time Ausmus was at Comerica Park, he was playing out the final days of his Tigers managerial tenure as Detroit was beginning its rebuilding project. Ausmus returned Tuesday as manager of an Angels squad that is built to contend now, despite a slow start so far this season. Though Ausmus has been gone just over a year, only 12 players on the Tigers’ active roster played for him.

Ausmus managed for four seasons in Detroit, winning a division title in 2014. The Tigers made a run to try to win it all by acquiring David Price that season, adding Yoenis Cespedes the following winter, then signing Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton a year later.

Ausmus was also at the helm for the dismantling of much of that roster, from J.D. Martinez’s trade to Arizona in July 2017 to the Upton and Justin Verlander trades at the end of August that season. A few weeks later, with Ausmus’ contract near its end, the two sides announced they were parting ways.

"It's nice to be back,” Ausmus said. “I had a great time when I was in Detroit. We didn't perform like I was hoping we would, but I loved the area I lived in and have a lot of good memories from here. I'm happy to be back."

Stewart expected back next weekend

The sight of slugging outfielder Christin Stewart in the Tigers’ clubhouse Tuesday afternoon raised speculation he might be returning from the injured list sooner than expected. However, it ended up being a brief visit in the middle of his rehab assignment.

Though Stewart said his strained right quad feels fine, and he’s batting 7-for-16 with five RBIs on his rehab stint at Class A Advanced Lakeland, the Tigers decided to have him continue there for a few more days before likely activating him next weekend for their series at Minnesota. The forecast for cold, wet conditions in Detroit for the next few days played a role in the decision.

“In a perfect world, I would be staying here,” Stewart said. “But the weather’s getting pretty nasty here. We’re just taking every precaution right now [to] give me the best opportunity for when I come back to go out there and do what I need to do to help this team win. I’m really excited for when that day comes.”

Carpenter expected to start Thursday

The Tigers have been going with a four-man rotation for over a week thanks to off-days, but with Tuesday beginning a stretch of 14 scheduled games in 13 days, they’ll need a fifth and sixth starter later this week. The former is expected to be left-hander Ryan Carpenter, who is expected to start Thursday’s series finale against the Angels.

The Tigers could wait until Saturday before calling up extra starters but decided to use Thursday instead, keeping Carpenter on his regular turn while allowing Tyson Ross an extra day between starts to rest a sore back.

Carpenter made five starts for the Tigers last year. He was in line to start for Detroit against the White Sox in Chicago on April 27, but that game was snowed out.

More injury updates

Stewart won’t be the only Tigers player in Lakeland on rehab. Left-hander Blaine Hardy traveled there on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment as he works back from a left forearm strain. He’s expected to make at least two outings before being evaluated for a potential return next weekend at Minnesota.

Zimmermann, currently on the 10-day injured list with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, played catch for a second time Tuesday as he continues his throwing progression in hopes of avoiding surgery.

“He feels down, doesn’t feel anything,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We’ve just gotta slow him down.”

Josh Harrison (left shoulder contusion) is progressing well but will need a Minor League rehab assignment before he returns.

“He’s going to have to go out and get some at-bats,” Gardenhire said.