DETROIT -- If the Tigers have the Anibal Sanchez of Tuesday night along with a healthy Justin Verlander, things could be looking up.
Before the game, manager Brad Ausmus announced that Verlander, who hasn't pitched this season, will make his 2015 Tigers debut at home this Saturday against the Cleveland Indians.
Then Sanchez came out and pitched a gem against the Cubs, a 6-0 victory, the Tigers' third in a row.
Sanchez allowed just six hits, two walks and struck out seven in 7 2/3 innings.
"I pass through a lot of bad games and not good games, but today I feel really good," Sanchez said. "I start hitting the corners. I start throwing my pitch in the right zone in the right situation, too. Something that I lost early in the first two months."
Sanchez said he told rookie catcher James McCann to feel free to call any pitch in any situation, and McCann did just that.
"I think his command and location was better," Ausmus said. "I think he used all of his pitches very well and very timely."
McCann said Sanchez established his fastball early, which set up his off-speed pitches.
"I think through some of his scuffles, he found too much of the middle and up," McCann said. "Even some that were middle tonight, they were down in the zone.
"When you are down in the zone, it's tough to hit. That's what he did."
Sanchez's night was made possible by a spectacular play by Rajai Davis in center field.
With the Tigers leading 1-0 in the second and a runner on first, Cubs catcher David Ross hit a ball that looked to be going over the fence until Davis climbed it and brought the ball back.
"He saved the game. I think the game is right there," Sanchez said. "That's a great play, amazing. He bring me back. I think this play gives me more energy for continue to throw better ball, execute my all pitch(es)."
Davis, who wasn't successful in bringing a home run back against the White Sox over the weekend, did his best Spiderman routine.
"It felt like I had some springs in my legs on that one, some extra springs," Davis said. "I don't know where they came from, but they were there."
After that play, the Cubs didn't threaten again until the eighth inning, when Sanchez gave up a hit and then walked two straight batters to load the bases.
Joba Chamberlain came in and struck out Miguel Montero to end the threat.
"Sanchie pitched his tail off, and we played great all around, scored some runs," Chamberlain said. "I was just trying to minimize the damage. Getting out with a zero is the best-case scenario."
Although Kyle Lobstein acquitted himself well in Verlander's absence until he got hurt, going 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA, the best-case scenario is Verlander returning to form and settling the rotation.
"Having a Justin Verlander come back into your rotation, that's a big boost," McCann said. "That's a former Cy Young award winner, former MVP. That's a guy that can carry the load for our team."
