James McCann

James McCann is not likely to play much this month for the Detroit Tigers.

(AP File Photo)

CLEVELAND -- Many Detroit Tigers fans seem to be eager to see catcher James McCann get some regular playing time in the majors.

It appears that they will be waiting for a while.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus explained Wednesday why McCann is unlikely to see much playing time after he joined them this week as one of eight September call-ups.

Ausmus said a pennant race is not the place for a catcher to get to know a pitching staff while also learning the tendencies of opposing hitters.

"Imagine never being in the big leagues and then all of a sudden in September, a team's trying to make the playoffs and you're going to stick a rookie catcher in there?" Ausmus said. "I don't think that'd be prudent. I just don't think it's a smart baseball move."

After Alex Avila left the game Tuesday night, Ausmus left Bryan Holaday in to face Cody Allen, who is tough on right-handed hitters, in a key spot late in the game rather than send a left-handed batter up to pinch hit. Ausmus said Tuesday night and again Wednesday that it's because he didn't want to have McCann catch the final three innings -- and possibly more, if the game went to extra innings -- of a tight game.

"Really, the crux of the reason I wouldn't hit for (Bryan) Holaday yesterday is I don't think putting McCann in a one-run or a tied game in the middle of a pennant race would be fair to McCann or to the pitchers," Ausmus said. "He doesn't have a feel for what these pitchers have thrown. He hasn't worked with them. They don't know him."

Ausmus said that there are reasons beyond just the familiarity with the pitching staff the Alex Avila and Holaday have that McCann does not.

"Familiarity with the major-league hitters that they're facing and the major league game and the atmosphere," Ausmus said. "It's a tough time to come up and be thrown in the fire. I think generally it doesn't happen at the catching position unless you're forced to by an injury."

McCann hit .295 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs and a .770 OPS for Triple-A Toledo this season, but he hit .342 with an .879 OPS against left-handers. Avila is hitting .222 with a .577 OPS against lefties, while Holaday is hitting .157 with a .395 OPS against them.

McCann made his major-league debut Monday night when he caught the ninth inning of a 12-1 win over the Indians. He has not yet had his first major-league at-bat.

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