Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Reliever Phil Coke will be added to the Detroit Tigers' roster for the upcoming American League Championship Series, the team announced Friday.
Coke had been deactivated for Detroit's Division Series matchup with Oakland due to elbow soreness. He has not pitched in a game since Sept. 18.
Prior to being shut down, the left-hander posted an 0-5 record with one save and a 5.40 earned run average in 49 appearances out of the bullpen.
Luke Putkonen, who did not pitch in the ALDS, will be taken off the roster to make room for Coke. The Tigers have not announced any other changes for the series, which begins Saturday in Boston's Fenway Park.
Manager Jim Leyland stated after Thursday's 3-0 win over Oakland in the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS that Anibal Sanchez would start Saturday's Game 1 against the Red Sox, who will counter with lefty Jon Lester.
Sanchez, who was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- and served up three homers in 4 1/3 innings during the Tigers' 6-3 Game 3 loss to the A's, is expected to be followed by 21-game winner Max Scherzer and 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in the rotation.
Verlander is coming off a dominating performance in Game 5 of the ALDS in which the All-Star righty yielded just two hits and struck out 10 over eight shutout innings.
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