Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez has inflammation in his triceps that will keep him sidelined through the weekend, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
Continue for updates.
Tigers to Hold Sanchez Out Until at Least Monday
Thursday, Feb. 25
Sanchez believes the swelling isn’t serious and should heal with time, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press:
I’m fine, I’m good. I think it’s early. We don’t have to rush anything, especially if I have the soreness. But in order for me to throw, I don’t have to take the risk of it getting worse if I want it to be ready in time.
There’s no rush right now. We have enough time to get ready for the season. We have a month and a half.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Sanchez initially experienced soreness in his throwing arm Monday, per Fenech, which prompted the team to conduct an MRI. Sanchez felt his triceps flare up while throwing a fastball during a bullpen session, per Jason Beck of MLB.com.
Ausmus noted he isn’t overly worried, per Fenech.
“It doesn’t seem to be anything concerning, but I guess you’re always cringing when it involved one of your starting pitchers,” the third-year manager said. “It’s not really in an area where we see a ton of problems with. The MRI looked good; it just showed a little inflammation there.”
Sanchez, 31, has missed time in each of the last three seasons with arm injuries and has never reached the 200-inning plateau. In 2015, Sanchez went 10-10 with a 1.28 WHIP and career-worst 4.99 ERA. The team shut him down in August after he suffered a strained rotator cuff, yet he still allowed an American League-worst 29 home runs.
The Tigers are hoping the 10-year veteran will round out the top three of a rotation anchored by Justin Verlander and offseason signee Jordan Zimmermann.
Sanchez’s injury seems like only a minor byproduct of a throwing arm returning to baseball activities after a lengthy hiatus over the winter. By returning Monday, he can squander most speculation about his health as Detroit continues camp and hopes to catapult from its last-place finish in 2015.
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