Alex Avila Back With Tigers

Alex Avila was dealing with right-hamstring tightness earlier in June, and Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland kept playing him. Not because he's a reckless fool, but because Avila gave the Tigers the best chance to win. Everyone involved got burned, though, when Avila re-aggravated the injury and went on the disabled list.

Avila is back, though. From MLive.com:

As expected, the Tigers announced late Wednesday that Avila would rejoin the team before Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. In order activate Avila, the club will need to clear a spot on the 25-man roster.

There is question as to whether the club will option rookie catcher Bryan Holaday after backup catcher Gerald Laird left in the fifth inning Wednesday night with left hamstring cramping.

Laird and Holaday took care of most of the catching duties in Avila's absence. Either Laird will go on the DL, or Holaday will go back to Toledo.

Alex Avila Hits DL With Hamstring Injury

Recently, Tigers catcher Alex Avila missed a few days of action due to hamstring tightness. He got back in the lineup, but it would appear he got back into the lineup too soon, as Tuesday he was removed from a game with a hamstring injury aggravation. Now Avila's officially been placed on the disabled list:

Bryan Holaday, just called up from Toledo, will make his major league debut and catch Max Scherzer tonight. Alex Avila 15 day DL. #adventure

— John Keating (@JohnKeatingFSD) June 6, 2012

To make roster room for Holaday, the Tigers designated catcher Omir Santos for assignment. Note that we now have a Holaday, a Holliday, and a Halladay. Not all on the Tigers, of course, because that would be weird. And I suspect you won't have to keep Bryan Holaday around in your mind for long. The 24-year-old owns a triple-A OPS of .627, and a career OPS of .657. He'll split time with Gerald Laird until Avila is back.

Alex Avila Injury: DL Stint Coming

The Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila is likely going on the DL with a hamstring issue.