Cleveland – The Tigers’ decision to send reliever Joe Jimenez back to Toledo after he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his big-league debut on Thursday was made primarily for baseball reasons.
The Tigers’ bullpen was taxed. It had worked 21 innings in the seven-game home stand. Long reliever Anibal Sanchez threw 35 pitches Thursday and the club needed a fresh arm to work long relief if needed to start the Cleveland series Friday.
Thus, William Cuevas, who was in the starting rotation, was recalled from Toledo and Jimenez, a one-inning reliever, was sent back down.