BOSTON — Jim Leyland wasn’t sure Friday if the Tigers will have starting catcher Alex Avila for Saturday’s Game 6 of the ALCS against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
He also said designated hitter Victor Martinez, a former catcher, could be an option behind the plate.
“We have to wait and see how [Avila] is [Saturday],’’ the Tigers manager said. “He is a little sore.’’
Avila endured a brutal Game 5 on Thursday in Detroit. David Ross ran him over at the plate in the second inning, Ross’ foul tip dislodged Avila’s mask in the fourth and Avila left the game with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee in the fourth inning.
Brayan Pena replaced Avila and could start Game 6 — if Martinez does not.
“That has been thought about, yes,’’ Leyland said of catching Martinez, who caught three games this year and none last season, which he missed it with a knee injury. “You could DH [Miguel Cabrera] and catch Victor and then obviously play Ramon Santiago or Don Kelly at third. I don’t think that will happen. But it would be an option if Alex were not able to play.’’
If the Tigers deem Avila’s injury serious enough for him to not be able to play Saturday and Sunday, if a Game 7 is needed, they can put catcher Bryan Holaday on the roster. However, if that move is made, Avila wouldn’t be eligible for the World Series.
Leyland juggled the lineup for Game 4 and the Tigers won 7-3. He made a minor adjustment for Game 5 and they lost, 4-3. Friday he didn’t know what the lineup would look like until he knows Avila’s status.
“It will be a big factor whether he plays or not,’’ Leyland said. “It will be pretty much using what we have used the last couple of days depending on Alex’s health. I don’t look for any major changes or any major surprises.’’
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The Red Sox held a brief workout Friday while the Tigers avoided Fenway Park.
There were two schedules posted on the Red Sox’s clubhouse door for Saturday. One dealt with if the Dodgers beat the Cardinals Friday night and forced a Game 7 in the NLCS. The other one was for the Cardinals winning the NL title. If there is an NLCS Game 7 Saturday, the Red Sox-Tigers Game 6 in the ALCS would be at 4:37 p.m.
John Farrell will start 21-year-old Xander Bogaerts at third base for the second straight game Saturday hoping he can provide some punch from the left side of the infield.
Bogaerts will replace Will Middlebrooks for the second straight game, but with Stephen Drew slumping Farrell could have used Bogaerts at short and Middlebrooks at third.
“There has been a lot calling for Stephen’s head but he is a very good player,’’ Farrell said of the left-handed hitting Drew, who is 1-for-17 (.059) with eighth strikeouts against the Tigers. In nine postseason games, he is batting .094 (3-for-32) and has whiffed 10 times. “And in these games defense is a premium. We all recognize the struggles that are there but he shores up the middle of our infield so well. And yes, Stephen will be in the lineup [Saturday].’’
Drew knows the reason for the slide.
“I am missing pitches, that’s what it boils down to,’’ Drew said. “Hopefully, I will come out of it soon and help offensively.’’
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Leyland is waiting on Avila before deciding on a lineup, but he was adamant Friday that Austin Jackson, who he dropped from first to eighth for Game 4, isn’t being elevated after going 4-for-8 (.500) , driving in two runs and drawing six walks in Games 4 and 5.
“Austin Jackson will hit in the eight- hole [Saturday],’’ Leyland said. “He has relaxed some by his own admission. And I will say that since we moved him, for whatever reason, he has been on base six times.’’