Tigers put Sanchez, Avila on DL

The Detroit Tigers are hopeful right-hander Anibal Sanchez can get healthy after missing a couple starts and are thankful catcher Alex Avila wasn't hurt even worse after getting hit by a pitch.

Detroit put Sanchez and catcher Avila on the 15-day disabled list Monday before its series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.

"I would think they would both be ready in two weeks," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Detroit recalled outfielder Avisail Garcia and catcher Bryan Holaday from Triple-A Toledo to take their roster spots.

Sanchez has a strained right shoulder, which led to him missing an outing earlier this month. Left-hander Jose Alvarez, who fared well when he previously replaced Sanchez, is expected to be called up from Toledo to start in place of Sanchez on Thursday at home against the Boston Red Sox.

Avila snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a second-inning double and singled in his next at-bat Sunday against at Minnesota, then left the game in the ninth inning when Brian Duensing hit his left forearm in the ninth inning.

"It's probably the most pain I've felt on the field," he said.

Leyland said Avila would be able to return sooner than 15 days, but the team couldn't afford to leave Brayan Pena as its only catcher.

"You can't go with one catcher for three or four days," Leyland said.

Sanchez is 6-5 with a 2.76 ERA and Avila is hitting .172 with five homers and 13 RBIs.