Anibal Sanchez to throw simulated game, Andy Dirks recovering well

DETROIT--Anibal Sanchez threw a bullpen session on Friday and Saturday morning Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said that Sanchez would be throwing a simulated game in Baltimore on Tuesday as the Tigers take on the Orioles.

Sanchez was also throwing from a distance of about 150 feet Saturday morning and had no problems doing so.

The right middle finger laceration which landed Sanchez on the disabled list back on April 27, has been healing nicely and there have been no setbacks. The blister no longer looks gross and has developed a good callus.

Sanchez stated Friday evening that he expects he will return to the Tigers rotation for the Sunday night game on May 18 against the Boston Red Sox.

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Andy Dirks has been cleared to begin baseball activities and is no longer in the rehabilitation phase after undergoing a microdiscectomy on March 10.

While he was initially expected to miss 12 weeks for the surgery, Dirks has progressed very well and is on time for his expected return date sometime in the first week of June.

Dirks began throwing as well as taking some dry swings for the first time. Being that he is just out of rehab his activities are very preliminary at this point but his recovery is progressing well, and more importantly, on schedule.

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Luke Putkonen was at Comerica Park Saturday morning, getting some throwing time in on a sun-soaked field. Ausmus said that if things go well in Toledo on Tuesday Putkonen should be expected to return to the bullpen after that.