Gerald Laird Injury: Tigers Catcher Won't See The DL

The Detroit Tigers have had plenty of issues with injuries as of late. Their starting pitching has been hit, and they're just now expecting to have Drew Smyly back from the disabled list. But there's injury elsewhere, too and a decision was expected on Thursday regarding Gerald Laird and his left hamstring issue.

Well, they did make a decision, and according to the Detroit News, Laird won't have to see the disabled list:

"I can still feel a knot, but it's a lot better," Laird said about his hamstring. "I'm good to go."

Laird will remain on the active roster, just a day after having to leave a game due to severe cramping in his left hamstring. Fortunately, the team has Alex Avila back in action on Thursday, so they can afford to keep Laird on the roster just a little bit longer if he's still injured.

With Avila returning from the disabled list, Laird can take a couple days to heal up as opposed to having to ride the DL for 15 days. Avila has been on the DL since June 6. To make room for Avila, some thought that Laird might be going down, but since he's going to be better sooner rather than later, Bryan Holaday was optioned to Toledo.

For more on the Detroit Tigers, check out Bless You Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main MLB hub at Baseball Nation.

Gerald Laird Injury: Tigers To Make Decision Thursday

Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird left their game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night with a cramp in his left hamstring. Fortunately for the Tigers, they have another catcher coming back from a hamstring injury on Thursday -- Alex Avila will start against the Cardinals in the last game of the series, his first game back since being placed on the disabled list on June 6.

Detroit planned to send Bryan Holaday down to the minors when bringing up Avila, but now things might be different. The Tigers could keep Holaday and place Laird on the DL. Manager Jim Leyland initially thought that was what they'd have to do, via Chris Iott of mlive.com.

"My initial thought was probably DL, because it looked maybe like a pulled groin area or something," Leyland said shortly after the game. "I wasn't really sure what it was. But they're telling me it cramped up on him. It'll be reevaluated tomorrow to see what we have to do."

Laird said after the game that he thinks "it's just going to be a day-to-day thing."

For more on the Tigers, head over to Bless You Boys. For more on the Cardinals, check out Viva El Birdos. And for all the news and analysis on MLB, visit Baseball Nation.

Gerald Laird Injury: Tigers Catcher Hurts Hamstring, Leaves Game Vs. Cardinals

Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird had to leave Wednesday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a hamstring injury.

He hurt his left hamstring in the fifth inning, running from first to second base on an Austin Jackson fly ball, via Chris Iott of mlive.com.

Laird grabbed the hamstring after sliding into second base and then left the field, replaced by rookie Bryan Holaday.

It's interesting timing, as the Tigers are slated to bring catcher Alex Avila back from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday. He has been on the disabled list with his own hamstring injury since June 6. It was assumed that Holaday would be sent down to the minors to make room for Avila, but if this injury to Laird turns out to be serious then there could be a change of plans.

For more on the Tigers, head over to Bless You Boys. For more on the Cardinals, check out Viva El Birdos. And for all the news and analysis on MLB, visit Baseball Nation.

Gerald Laird Injury: Tigers Catcher Hoping To Return Tuesday, Avoid DL Trip

Injuries have started to ravage the Detroit Tigers' lineup, but thankfully it appears that part-time catcher Gerald Laird will be able to avoid a trip to the 15-day disabled list after injuring his hamstring in Friday's game.

The 32-year-old catcher mentioned that he felt his right hamstring tighten on the step immediately before he unexpectedly dove into first base on a tight play at the bag against the Yankees in a pivotal series opener. With regular catcher Alex Avila already dealing with a hamstring injury of his own, Laird's situation came at the worst conceivable time for a Tigers organization that is ridiculously thin at the position.

Emergency call-up Omir Santos will remain in the lineup until one of Detroit's two catchers is ready to get back behind the plate, even if Laird appears fully confident that he'll be back in time for the next series. "I know my body," Laird said before Saturday's game. "I honestly don’t think it’s going to be very long."

Assuming everything goes to plan and he is able to avoid a trip to the disabled list, Laird figures to see a good deal of playing time in the near future with Avila banged up. With both guys unlikely to be playing at full health for a while, a straight platoon behind the plate might end up being the best situation for both players.

For more on the Tigers, head over to Bless You Boys. For more MLB news and analysis, be sure to visit Baseball Nation.