Blue Jays' Sanchez back, Tulowitzki out until 2019

Right-hander Aaron Sanchez will be on the mound for the first time in two-plus months when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

Sanchez was activated by the Blue Jays on Saturday, and the team also announced that disappointing left-hander Jaime Garcia was designated for assignment.

Additionally, manager John Gibbons said injured shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (feet) isn't expected to return this season. Tulowitzki hasn't played for the Blue Jays since July 28, 2017, when he was injured while running the bases and underwent season-ending surgery to repair ligament damage in his right ankle.

He later underwent surgery on both feet to remove bone spurs from his heels just prior to the start of the 2018 season and was expected to be sidelined two months.

The Blue Jays are hoping the five-time All-Star will be fully recovered by the start of spring training. He is due to make $20 million in salary next season.

Sanchez has been sidelined by a bruise to his right index finger. He came clean earlier this week by revealing that the injury occurred when the finger got caught in a falling suitcase on June 21, hours before he pitched against the Los Angeles Angels.

"It got stuck in my suitcase and it started falling," Sanchez said. "It all happened in a span of about 30 seconds. I said, 'Ow,' and my knuckle got super fat. I pitched that day, probably didn't help, but it was the first time I was going to pitch in front of my family as a professional, and I wanted to see what I could do."

Sanchez lasted just 25 pitches and one inning in the start against the Angels. He wanted to pitch through the injury because approximately 180 family members and friends made the 100-mile-plus drive from his hometown of Barstow, Calif., to Anaheim.

Sanchez, 26, is 3-5 with a 4.52 ERA in 15 starts this season. The 2016 All-Star is 28-18 with a 3.28 ERA in 118 career appearances (64 starts).

The 32-year-old Garcia was 3-6 with a 5.93 ERA in 25 appearances (13 starts) for Toronto this season. He served up 13 homers in 74 1/3 innings.

Garcia signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Blue Jays prior to the start of the season. The pact included a $10 million club option for 2019 or a $2 million buyout.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)