Anibal throws in Minors game, on track for return

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Tigers will open the season with at least three prominent players on the disabled list. It does not appear Anibal Sanchez will be one of them. He threw 71 pitches in a Minor League camp game Monday morning, putting him on track to open the season in the Tigers' rotation.

"We have to see how he feels in the morning," manager Brad Ausmus said. "It's the day after sometimes that's more important than the day of."

Sanchez allowed a run on seven hits over four innings, walking one and striking out four. The results, however, weren't important. His health was. He had been scratched from his start a week ago with right posterior shoulder inflammation, and received a cortisone shot as part of the treatment.

Sanchez hadn't pitched in a game since March 12. His shoulder issues, while concerning, weren't all that unusual for him. He had a similar issue last June that landed him on the disabled list for a couple weeks, but he pitched fine the rest of the season.

As long as Sanchez feels fine on Tuesday, he's scheduled to start the Tigers' exhibition game against the Nationals in Washington on Saturday. That would put him on track for the third game of the regular season next Thursday against the Royals at Comerica Park.