Hoping to keep hitting, Avila grows out hair

DETROIT -- Alex Avila tried growing out his beard the last few years. Now, he's looking for good luck by growing out his hair.

It's hard to see under his helmet and mask, but he's growing a pretty decent head of hair. He hasn't cut it since he came back from his first stint on the disabled list at the beginning of July. The way he hit upon his return, he didn't want to risk it. Now, he's debating whether to grow it out for the rest of the season.

It's something new, he said.

Avila was back in the starting lineup Friday after going 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter in Thursday's ninth-inning comeback. He entered Friday's series opener against Cleveland batting an even .200 on the season, but .247 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 28 games since returning from the DL in July.