Acquiring Anibal Sanchez Makes Tigers a Playoff Lock

By Josh Berenter of Bleacher Report

When the Detroit Tigers stumbled out to a 26-32 record through 59 games this season, it looked like all the experts who picked the Tigers to make the playoffs could be wrong.

But after Detroit went 16-8 in July and acquired starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez and second baseman Omar Infante, everyone's pick to win the American League Central is starting to live up to expectations and realize their sky-high potential.

Although the Infante acquisition was critically necessary for Detroit, the addition of Sanchez is the key that makes the Tigers a lock to make the playoffs.

Sanchez is a proven veteran who will give Detroit much-needed stability at the back end of a young rotation.

The 28-year-old right-hander from Venezuela didn't impress in his debut with the Tigers on Saturday, giving up five earned runs on eight hits, three strikeouts and three walks in six innings of work in a 5-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

But Sanchez's pedigree suggests he'll bounce back.

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