DETROIT -- Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced Tuesday that Anibal Sanchez is moving back to the bullpen after the veteran right-hander allowed four runs over five innings in Detroit's 6-0 loss to Cleveland on Saturday.
That was Sanchez's first start in nearly a month, after Ausmus and his staff decided to move the struggling starter to the bullpen to work out some kinks.
"It was just trying to do what we think is best to help the baseball team," Ausmus said.
The move will set the Tigers up for a five-man rotation moving forward into the All-Star break. The off-day Monday allowed Ausmus to start Jordan Zimmermann and Michael Fulmer in the first two games of a four-game series against the Rays beginning Thursday.
Sanchez was available out of the bullpen Tuesday as the Tigers began a brief two-game series with the Marlins at Comerica Park to wrap up a nine-game homestand.
Sanchez was 3-7 with a 6.71 ERA in 12 starts. He went 0-4 with a 7.09 ERA in six starts in May before he was moved to the relief role.
He has gone 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA in six appearances out of the 'pen, allowing two runs over 9 2/3 innings.
Worth noting
Right fielder Steven Moya was out of the Tigers' lineup on Tuesday in favor of Mike Aviles. Ausmus said he made the decision because of the matchup against Miami's left-handed starter Adam Conley.