Tigers to activate Sanchez on Saturday

An abbreviated rehab start isn't slowing down Anibal Sanchez's return to the Detroit Tigers.

Manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday that Sanchez will come off the disabled list Saturday to start at Cleveland.

Sanchez has been out since June 16 with a strained right shoulder, and had to leave his rehab start with Class A Lakeland on Monday after taking a line drive off his lower left leg. He had a bruised leg but nothing more.

Leyland said Sanchez, who allowed two hits in 1 2-3 scoreless innings before his injury, had not been able to throw as many pitches as the Tigers would have liked. He also said Sanchez would be on a limited pitch count against the Indians.

Acquired from Miami last July, Sanchez is 6-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 13 starts this year, the first of a five-year, $80-million deal he signed in the offseason.