Tigers place Alex Avila on DL, recall Bryan Holaday

Tigers catcher Alex Avila was scratched from the starting lineup on Friday as a result of a right forearm contusion and the club will be without the catcher for at least the next few weeks. Detroit announced on Saturday morning it placed Avila on the 15-day disabled list with a loose body in his knee.

The move is retroactive to Thursday and the Tigers are confident Avila will be activated as soon as he is eligible to come off the DL. Avila, 28, posted a .200/.342/.317 batting line to this point in 2015 while adding two home runs and eight RBIs. He has established himself as a consistent starting option, appearing in 102 and 124 games in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Detroit is pleased with his ability to handle a pitching staff, and although Avila's line may not reflect it, he provides power and has success with runners in scoring position.

After Avila was scratched on Friday, James McCann started and went 1-for-4 while also scoring a run in the Tigers' 6-5 victory over the Royals.

Before Saturday afternoon's contest against the Royals, the Tigers will recall Bryan Holaday from Triple-A Toledo. Holaday, 27, has posted a .230/.273/.328 line to complement one home run and nine RBIs in 18 games this season. Holaday saw action in 62 games with the Tigers and batted .231/.266/.276 while adding 15 RBIs. He thrived after spending 16 games with the club in 2013, batting .296 and posting a home run.

Although Holaday could see some time behind the plate, the Tigers will likely give McCann the majority of the starting time. McCann, 24, is batting .295/.311/.432 in 15 games this season. He batted .295 in 109 games in Triple-A last season and could prove to produce more consistently than Holaday can until Avila is healthy.