Avila Out Of Tigers Lineup With Sore Left Knee
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila could be back in the lineup as early as Tuesday after an MRI showed no structural damage to his left knee.
Only four days after coming off the disabled list following a right hamstring strain, Avila missed Monday night's game at Texas with tendinitis in his knee.
After the Tigers' 8-2 victory, manager Jim Leyland said Monday's MRI showed nothing but the tendinitis, which Avila said he feels walking up stairs or running to back up first base. The catcher said he started feeling pain after coming back from the DL.
"We got some medicine for it and we'll see. He might be ready to go (Tuesday)," Leyland said. "There is no structural damage or anything like that. So it's nothing more than what he went through last year from time to time."
Avila, an All-Star last year, said he has had problems since his knee twisted on a throw during the second half of last season.
"I'm sure he won't catch as much as we thought he might," Leyland said. "But exactly what that means, I have no idea."
Avila is hitting .234 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 48 games. Backup catcher Gerald Laird is hitting .303 in 32 games.
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