The Tigers are trying to retool Alex Avila's swing. The change consists of eliminating the toe-tap before his swing. The 26-year-old backstop is batting just .177/.259/.290 with 43 strikeouts in 124 at-bats this season, so it's worth a shot. However, it could take him a while to get comfortable.

Alex Avila is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Astros. The struggling backstop will take a seat with the day game after the night game. Brayan Pena will start behind the plate.

Alex Avila smashed a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning, leading the Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Astros on Friday. Avila had been hitless in three trips on the night before victimizing Jose Veras for the game-winner in the ninth inning. He's off to an absolutely brutal start offensively, hitting just .179/.247/.333 with four homers and five RBI on the season, but for at least one night he gets to play the role of hero.

Alex Avila is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Twins. He's taking a seat with the day game after the night game. Brayan Pena will start behind the plate.

Alex Avila was benched for two games of the Tigers' three-game sweep of the Braves, and is hitting just .169/.229/.262 on the season. Avila is batting an absurd .140/.196/.140 across 46 plate appearances since last going deep on April 9. Backup Brayan Pe¤a isn't hitting any better (.222/.250/.259), but Avila is on the spot after slumping to a .243/.352/.384 slash in 2012. The good news is, his troublesome knees have yet to be an issue. Avila deserves more time both in AL-only leagues and two-catcher mixed formats, but it wouldn't be panicking to start considering contingencies.

Alex Avila is batting just .226/.273/.419 but has a pair of home runs over his first eight contests this season. The most important thing is that he's started and completed eight of nine games. Not lacking in pop or plate discipline, Avila could be a top-10 fantasy catcher this season if his knees don't act up.

Alex Avila went 3-for-4 with a couple of doubles in the Tigers' 10-6 defeat of the Phillies on Tuesday. As disappointing in 2012 as he was impressive in 2011, Avila is a key player for the Tigers this season. With a .286 average, three doubles and eight walks, he's been productive this spring, though it's come with 11 strikeouts in 28 at-bats. The Tigers need more production from the bottom of their lineup, and Avila bouncing back as at least a .260-15 HR guy would go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.

Alex Avila believes that platelet-rich plasma injections have helped his left knee. Avila played through pain last season while hitting just .243/.352/.384 with nine homers, but he's hopeful that his knee issues are behind him. "I'm already able to do stuff this offseason I wasn't able to do last offseason," said Avila. "I'm very happy about it."

Tigers avoided arbitration with C Alex Avila by agreeing to a one-year, $2.95 million contract. Avila was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. The backstop hit a disappointing .243/.352/.384 with nine homers in 2012 while dealing with knee issues. He could bounce back in 2013 if he stays healthy.

Alex Avila received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left knee shortly after the conclusion of the World Series. Avila has dealt with patellar tendinitis in both knees over the last two seasons, falling a month behind his offseason workout schedule last winter because he was rehabbing the knees. He said last Friday that he feels "great," though, and is "for sure" ahead of where he was last offseason. Avila's nagging knee issues no doubt were a big cause for his downturn in production in 2012 and they remain a concern despite the encouraging signs so far this offseason.