General manager Dave Dombrowski believes that Gerald Laird gives the Tigers the option to rest Alex Avila more often this season. Avila caught 132 games last year, including several stretches without a day off, which is believed to have led to the knee injuries he was forced to play through in the postseason. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he is confident in Laird behind the plate and that he expects him to get his fair share of work. Avila could also serve a good amount of time as the DH with Victor Martinez (torn ACL) likely out for the season.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Tigers are close to signing a catcher. Alex Avila carried a heavy load this season, as Victor Martinez was unable to catch due to a knee injury, so the Tigers would do well to secure a capable backup. Rosenthal notes that Kelly Shoppach is among their potential targets, though Jason Beck of MLB.com hears that it will be somebody else.

Alex Avila told reporters that he only had tendinitis in his knees, and no ligament damage. Avila underwent an MRI on Sunday to determine whether his self-diagnosis is correct. The 24-year-old catcher was hobbling badly during the Tigers' playoff run and wound up going just 3-for-41 (.073) at the plate.

Alex Avila is set to undergo an MRI on both knees. It's the left knee that's given him issues lately, and he received a cortisone shot in it recently. Both he and Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said they think he'll recover from the ailment with a little rest, but we'll have to see what the MRI says. Avila hit just .073/.116/.146 with one homer and two RBI during the team's postseason run.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland admitted that Alex Avila (knee) would sit out "a couple of days" if it were the regular season. Avila has a nagging right knee injury that's obviously affected his running and production at the plate, though he did belt a solo homer Thursday. It's not clear if he might require offseason surgery or if rest will be enough. "To be honest with you, this is probably some of the wear and tear from me playing him a little bit too much during the season We really beat him up a little more than I would have liked to," Leyland said. "But there's nobody tougher on this team. Believe me, I know what these guys are going through. I've been in the trainer's room."

Alex Avila will bat eighth in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Rangers on Thursday. Avila batted sixth Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Playing through a knee injury, the 24-year-old backstop is batting just .061 (2-for-33) during the postseason. Jhonny Peralta will move up to the sixth spot Thursday while Brandon Inge bats seventh and Ramon Santiago hits ninth.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Alex Avila is not in danger of missing any starts despite a nagging right knee injury. "If we're playing, Alex will be catching," said Leyland. "Alex is banged up pretty good. His knee was swelling up not too long ago. Trainers are doing the best they can to take care of that." Clearly affected by the knee, Avila has just two singles in 29 at-bats this postseason.

Alex Avila is 1-for-20 this postseason. Avila also has nine strikeouts over that span. He's been battling a knee injury since late in the regular season and it's clearly still affecting him at the plate. "That's something that shouldn't be an excuse for my performance or anybody else's, for that matter, at this point," Avila said. "In the playoffs, you go out there with what you've got and you give your best. Sometimes you come out on top, sometimes you don't."

Alex Avila is nursing a minor knee injury, but expects to be in the starting lineup for Game 5 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Thursday night. Calling the injury a sore patella, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said it was likely caused by "crashing down to block balls and stuff." Avila aggravated the injury Monday when he stepped on Robinson Cano's foot during a bunt attempt in the sixth inning. "Minor injuries happen to everybody," said Avila. "Whether I was injured badly or not, I'm not really coming out of the game anyway, so it doesn't matter." The 24-year-old backstop went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's loss and is hitless over 12 at-bats during the series.

Alex Avila started Game 4 of the ALDS on Tuesday despite playing with a sore patella. He went 0-for-3 Tuesday and is now 0-for-12 with six strikeouts in the series. "Minor injuries happen to everybody," Avila said. "Whether I was injured badly or not, I'm not really coming out of the game anyway, so it doesn't matter." Avila hurt his knee when he stepped on Robinson Cano's foot after Alex Rodriguez threw wildly to first on Avila's sacrifice bunt in Game 3. "Just a little twist," Avila said, "and you just deal with it. At this point in the season, I think everybody's dealing with injuries. So nothing major." Avila should be in the lineup for Thursday's elimination game in New York.