DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers are skipping Anibal Sanchez’s next start and plan to pitch Jose Alvarez in his place Sunday against the Cleveland Indians.
Tigers trainer Kevin Rand said on Saturday it was the prudent decision to sit Sanchez because he didn’t recover well from his previous outing and it’s early in the season. Sanchez says there’s tightness in the back of his right shoulder. The right-hander won his last start on June 4 against Tampa Bay, giving up one run in seven innings. He is 6-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 12 starts, which includes a one-hitter May 24 against Minnesota.
Alvarez is set to make his major league against Cleveland. The left-hander from Venezuela is 5-4 with a 2.42 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 12 starts at Triple-A Toledo.
