Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez has suffered a setback while throwing a bullpen session on Monday and is afraid that he "may not be able to return" this season. Sanchez came out of a meeting with GM Dave Dombrowski, manager Brad Ausmus and head athletic trainer Kevin Rand but was not available to reporters after the meeting. Even through there has not been any official announcement about Sanchez's timetable, it is safe to say that he will likely be out for the rest of the year.
This comes as a major surprise and letdown after there were reports that Sanchez had been improving and getting closer to returning. Detroit had not ruled out Sanchez, yet, on starting one of the games on Saturday in a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. This was despite the original reported timetable of four weeks. Sanchez has been sidelined on the 15-day disabled list since August 8th with a strain in his right pectoral.
Anibal Sanchez has once again become one of the most reliable starting pitchers on the Tigers' staff. He has posted an 8-5 record to go alongside with a 3.46 ERA and a stellar 2.71 FIP in 125 innings pitched. Earlier this season, he was on the disabled list for three with a blister on his middle finger. Sanchez also had missed the last couple weeks of this year's spring training with discomfort in his shoulder.
Kyle Lobstein is currently scheduled to pitch on Thursday afternoon at the New York Yankees, while one of the starters for Saturday's doubleheader is still to be determined.