Chris Davis on his defense

Chris Davis knows what you're thinking.

(Don't get embarrassed. It's baseball-related.)

Big guy, big muscles, hits really long home runs, strikes out a lot, can't possess the athleticism to play first base at an elite level.

This is why we have scouts and defensive metrics and, if blessed with it, the ability to see and comprehend.

Davis is playing an outstanding first base. He's got to be averaging at least one play a night that warrants an asterisk on your scoresheet. Or whatever symbol you choose that provides a reminder that the 6-3 or 5-3 or 3-unassisted deserves highlighting.

Third base coach Bobby Dickerson, who doubles as infield instructor, told me in Texas that this is "the most locked in" he's seen Davis. He won't get an argument from the big first baseman.

"I feel pretty good right now," Davis said. "I feel like you can get in a rhythm defensively much like you do as a hitter. I feel like you can kind of get in a groove.

"I've worked hard this spring, and really the last few years, and Bobby deserves a lot of that credit. He's the one out there always watching, always critiquing. And we've gotten to the point in our relationship where we have that open trust, so I know when he comes to me with something that it's legit. He's not just picking on me. He deserves a lot of credit as far as my defensive work goes."

Third baseman Manny Machado has won two Gold Gloves and a Platinum Glove. Shortstop J.J. Hardy has won three Gold Gloves. Davis has no preconceived notions that he's going to join them, his expectations as low as some of the throws he's dug out of the dirt.

Is it because of his size and the perception that he's only equipped to crush fastballs?

"I didn't until you said that, but now ..." Davis quipped.

"No, I think a lot of it is, I don't want to say 'flashiness,' but I try not to command a lot of attention as far as that goes defensively. I want to earn the trust of my infielders, which I feel I have right now. It's a daily battle to keep that trust. To have them go out there and make plays and have the confidence that they can let it go and as long as it's close, it's going to be caught, that means a lot to me.

"I think Bobby and I probably talk about Gold Glove more than anybody over the last few years, and I think it's just a constant reminder that anything worth having, you've got to work for. So maybe it will happen, but if it doesn't, as long as we continue to play good defense and win baseball games, that's really all that matters."

Too soon to kick around the idea of being part of the first infield with four Gold Glove winners in the same season? Should we at least wait until the season is more than a couple of weeks old?

"I think it's something that we're shooting for as a team, and not just in the infield," Davis said. "Obviously, I'm closer to the infielders because I work with them every day, but I think it's something where the outfielders served as a point of pride over the years with Jonesy (Adam Jones) winning so many Gold Gloves and Nicky (Markakis) when he was here. Defense is a big part of our game and we work extremely hard at it and I think it shows.

"I think it would just be a tribute to Bobby and the amount of hours he's put in and all the hours he's put in with the infielders."

Pay close attention to tonight's game and mark down whether Davis stretches for a throw in the dirt, whether he leaps for a high throw and makes a sweeping tag - as he did a few nights ago to save Hardy from an error - whether he spears a sharp grounder up the line or in the hole and records the out.

One of these web gems has to be his favorite. Any guesses?

"I think digging a ball out is probably my favorite because usually guys when they make throws that bounce or short-hop, they're on really tough plays, whether it's falling away from the throw, you're off-balance, you're kind of caught in between," Davis said.

"I think that's probably my favorite one because it's the toughest, you know? And those are the ones guys want."

I'm not in Kansas City, but I know that Yovani Gallardo was pulled after two innings last night and he's headed back to Baltimore to undergo an examination of his right shoulder.

Gallardo's contract was restructured after his physical, with the two sides agreeing to a two-year deal that included an option for 2018. The Orioles were concerned about his shoulder.

The club has to create a spot today for left-hander Brian Matusz, who's coming off the disabled list. It could be Gallardo if he's placed on the DL or it could be reliever T.J. McFarland, who went five scoreless innings last night after relieving Gallardo. Those are two obvious choices.

It won't be Tyler Wilson, who's starting tonight.

Shameless plug alert: I'm appearing on "Wall to Wall Baseball" from 10-11:30 a.m. on MASN.