Tigers place Anibal Sanchez, Alex Avila on DL

The Tigers placed pitcher Anibal Sanchez on the DL with a shoulder strain. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers placed pitcher Anibal Sanchez and catcher Alex Avila on the disabled list, the team announced Monday.

Sanchez is sent to the 15-day DL with a shoulder strain and that means Jose Alvarez will get the nod to start on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. The DL stint is retroactive to June 16. Sanchez is 6-5 with a 2.76 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 101 strikeouts for the American League Central division leaders.

The team recalled outfielder Avisail Garcia from Toledo to take a roster spot.

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Avila left Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins after being hit by a pitch and was expected to miss at least one game after being diagnosed with a contusion in the left forearm.