KANSAS CITY -- Following Wednesday's 12-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, manager Brad Ausmus said there would be a corresponding roster move to address the hole in the Tigers' starting rotation created by Buck Farmer's move to the bullpen. On Thursday, the team made that move official, outrighting Josh Zeid to Triple-A Toledo and activating LHP Kyle Lobstein from the 60-day disabled list.
Lobstein will be on the mound for Friday's game against the Cleveland Indians, Ausmus said.
The 26-year-old Lobstein is 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA in eight games for the Tigers this season. Most recently, he made a start for the Mud Hens on Aug. 30 in which he gave up six hits, four runs, one walk and one home run in 6 2/3 innings.
Though Kyle Ryan was an option that Ausmus said the team discussed, starting Lobstein on Friday keeps him on schedule for what was slated to be his next start in Toledo. It is unclear when the Tigers will work Ryan into the mix.
With the Tigers' pitching woes on display Wednesday night, a game in which they surrendered four home runs, the team did receive some good news on that front Thursday.
Injured starter Anibal Sanchez (rotator cuff) threw for the third consecutive day and was encouraged that he has experienced no pain. Still, he wants to exercise caution in his rehab. Sanchez, who threw from 90 feet Thursday, described the process as "baby steps."
"The goal is to be healthy. Right now we do everything to be back before the season is over," he said. "But, both sides (Sanchez and the medical staff), we are on the same page and we are going slow. The idea is to be healthy."
Patience permitting, Sanchez still is eager to make another start before season's end.
"Especially because I don't have a really good season, personally," he explained. "If I am able to come back, throw a couple of starts and feel comfortable for next year, that's really good. But it depends on how everything is with my arm."
Additionally, the MRI results came back clear for reliever Al Alburquerque, who has no structural damage in his right hip, which has been causing him discomfort recently. Alburquerque threw on Thursday and could be available as early as Friday.
