Avila was placed on the 10-day injured list with bilateral calf strains Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Avila had been on the bench in four of the last five games, but he's apparently dealing with a calf injury. The Nationals haven't yet given a timetable for the catcher's return, but he'll be on the injured list at least through the All-Star break. Tres Barrera was recalled from Triple-A Rochester as part of a corresponding move.

Avila will start at second base and bat seventh Thursday against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Trea Turner (finger) and Jordy Mercer (quadriceps) and unavailable Thursday, leading Avila to receive his first big-league start at the keystone while manager Dave Martinez works with a makeshift infield. The Nationals will likely make a roster move if Turner and Mercer remain sidelined beyond Thursday, so it should just be a spot start in the infield for Avila.

Avila is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

Avila had started in four straight games to close out the weekend, but he'll be back on the bench for the second contest in a row now that Yan Gomes has shaken off his hamstring issue. While Gomes was sidelined for the four-game stretch, Avila went 3-for-12 with a double, three walks, a run and an RBI.

Avila will start at catcher and bat sixth Sunday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Avila will stick in the lineup for a fourth straight game while Yan Gomes (hamstring) manages an injury. Manager Dave Martinez expressed confidence that Gomes would be ready to resume catching duties Tuesday in Tampa Bay following Monday's team off day, so Avila's run of regular starts could come to an end following Sunday's contest.

Avila went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran catcher has gone just 2-for-21 over his prior seven starts dating back to April 24, as he continues to see little action behind Yan Gomes. On the season, Avila carries a .182/.357/.364 slash line with five of his six hits (four doubles and a triple) going for extra bases.

Avila went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran catcher came into Wednesday having gone 0-for-6 to begin his tenure with the Nats, but Avila was the only Washington hitter to have much success against Carlos Martinez and drove in Josh Bell in the second inning with his first two-bagger. Yan Gomes remains the starter behind the plate, but Avila could earn more playing time if he keeps making the most of his opportunities.

Avila was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The 33-year-old missed the first week of the season due to contract tracing from Washington's COVID-19 outbreak, but he's now been cleared to join the team. Avila and Jonathan Lucroy are poised to operate as the backups to starter Yan Gomes behind the plate.

The Nationals placed Avila on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Avila is one of nine Nationals players on the 40-man roster who will begin the campaign on the IL as a result of the team's recent COVID-19 outbreak. Prior reports have suggested that only four of the players in question have confirmed positive tests, but it's uncertain whether Avila is one of the infected players or merely a close contact. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, players that tested positive will be eligible to return after 10 days in quarantine, while those ruled out through contact tracing can return after a week. With Yan Gomes joining Avila on the COVID-19 IL to begin the season, the Nationals will be without both of their top two catchers. Jonathan Lucroy and Tres Barrera were both added to the Opening Day roster as replacements, and Lucroy is slated to catch Max Scherzer in Tuesday's season opener versus Atlanta, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com.

The Nationals are expected to be without Avila due to COVID-19 protocols if MLB clears the team to begin its season during the upcoming week, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Avila is among the nine members of the Nationals organization currently in quarantine because of COVID-19 protocols, though the club hasn't disclosed whether he's one of the four players who has tested positive or if he's merely a high-risk close contact. Regardless, his expected absence to begin the week will likely leave Jonathan Lucroy or Tres Barrera as the backup catcher behind No. 1 option Yan Gomes.

Avila has gone 4-for-20 (.200) through eight Grapefruit League games with a double, a home run and a shaky 1:9 BB:K.

EDGE Analysis

He hasn't showed much at the plate this spring, but the Nats weren't expecting a 34-year-old with a career .235/.348/.394 slash line to become an offensive force when they signed him in January. Avila will give the club a dependable No. 2 catcher behind Yan Gomes, and it remains to be seen how the workload will be split between the two veteran backstops.