CHICAGO -- Detroit Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has been activated from the disabled list and is scheduled to start Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Zimmermann left Washington as a free agent and signed a $110 million, five-year deal with the Tigers during the offseason. He was 5-0 with a 0.55 ERA after five April starts but has struggled since and gone on the DL twice because of neck pain.

Zimmermann gave up two home runs in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Monday, throwing 80 pitches.

"I'm pain free," Zimmermann said Tuesday. "I feel great, and the ball is coming out good. I have pretty good command of the off-speed pitches, so it's way, way better than when I was rehabbing the first time and tried coming back. I feel as strong or if not stronger than I did in April. I'm excited to get back out there."

Jordan Zimmermann says he's pain free as he prepares to return from the DL to face the Orioles on Saturday. Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports

He said he threw his fastball from 90 to 93 mph, attributing a drop in velocity to the neck strain earlier this year.

Zimmermann, 9-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 16 starts, allowed six runs and six hits while getting five outs in his last start with Detroit on Aug. 4. He also had a poor June before being sidelined the first time.

"As long as I'm feeling good and I can locate, I can pitch at 90 to 91, no problem," Zimmermann said. "When I was rehabbing the first time, I was 90 to 91 and couldn't locate. That's a recipe for disaster. If I can locate, I have enough off-speed pitches to get these guys off balance, and I should be fine."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said right-hander Michael Fulmer will start against Baltimore on Friday and ace Justin Verlander will go against the Orioles on Sunday at Comerica Park.

Detroit had won 11 of 14 entering Tuesday, moving into a tie with the Orioles for the second American League wild card.

"We're playing good ball right now," Zimmermann said. "If I can get back in there and help them win some ballgames down the stretch here, that's really what I want to do."