OAKLAND -- Right-hander Anibal Sanchez is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday in Anaheim, and Jordan Zimmermann could be back in the rotation by the end of the week.
Detroit had been hopeful that Zimmermann would make the start against the Angels and didn't announce Sanchez as the starter until Sunday morning, a few hours before Zimmermann threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session.
According to manager Brad Ausmus, Zimmermann will throw on the side once more and is tentatively penciled in to start on Friday at Comerica Park in the opener of a three-game series against the White Sox.
"He felt good," Ausmus said following Detroit's 4-2 loss to Oakland. "If everything goes all right and he feels fine tomorrow, he'll throw another side on Tuesday and we'll kind of line him up to pitch on Friday."
Detroit has not announced its pitching plans for Wednesday, though Ausmus indicated that rookie right-hander Michael Fulmer will get the call. Fulmer is 4-1 and has won three consecutive starts.
Worth noting
• Ausmus said that the plan is for right-hander Shane Greene to make one more rehab start before rejoining the big league club. "But if something should happen here, we could always activate him right away," Ausmus said.
The Tigers still are uncertain whether to use Greene in the rotation or out of the bullpen when he returns; Ausmus said it's likely to be decided on a situational basis.
"The main factor is what's going to help us win," he said. "The needs of the team will come first. I think he just wants to pitch."