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DETROIT--Following a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins Saturday, the Detroit Tigers announced that right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez would be placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right finger laceration. The Tigers also recalled relief pitcher Justin Miller from Triple-A Toledo.
RHP Anibal Sanchez will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right middle finger laceration. #tigers
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) April 26, 2014
Sanchez had pitched three scoreless innings and had not allowed a single hit before he was suddenly brought out of the game when catcher Bryan Holaday noticed something was amiss. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and head athletic trainer Kevin Rand met with Sanchez on the field and after briefly examining his hand immediately pulled Sanchez out of the game.
Brad Ausmus said Sanchez's blister was gross: "I was in between throwing up and taking him out of the game."
— Chris Iott (@Chris_Iott) April 26, 2014
In conjunction with Sanchez being placed on the disabled list it was announced that Justin Miller would be recalled Sunday prior to the start of Sunday's game against the Twins. Justin Miller had just been sent down to Toledo Saturday morning in exchange for Jose Ortega because of an overtaxed bullpen in Friday's game. The stint in Toledo did not last the day.
Miller is able to come back immediately instead of the usual 10 day waiting period because the recall is the result of an injury. Miller had pitched 5 1/3 innings and had struck out three while allowing only four hits and one run.
While Sanchez is on the disabled list the Tigers will need a spot starter. Drew Smyly was supposed to be skipped in the rotation because of two upcoming off days next week.
However, he may be called upon to pitch as the Tigers are short a starter, which is sooner than Ausmus would have liked. But considering the current situation the Tigers now find themselves in, it may not be possible to skip him.
Should Ausmus choose not to put Smyly back into the rotation so soon, some alternatives would be left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray, right-handed pitcher Drew VerHagen and left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein.