Davis remains encouraged by health as activities increase

MINNESOTA - Whether Chris Davis is ready for more baseball activities won't be clear until the Orioles first baseman wakes up on Saturday and determines that the soreness hasn't returned to his right side.

Davis took batting practice, threw and fielded ground balls earlier today and said he responded favorably to it. Still no setbacks as he tries to return from a strained oblique.

"I think the biggest test is probably going to be tomorrow, what I feel like tomorrow, from what I hear. But I felt fine today," he said.

"I swung as hard as I could for a long time, so I feel pretty good."

Davis will scale down his work on Saturday, giving his body a rest day.

"Tomorrow's an off-day just because we went full bore today with swings and ground balls and throwing," he said. "I'm still going to do my exercises and all that stuff, but tomorrow it will be a big day as far as how I feel.

"Hopefully, there's no soreness. It would be extremely frustrating to find out tomorrow if I'm really sore after basically sitting around for three weeks just doing nothing except exercises to strengthen that area."

Davis is expected to repeat today's activities on Sunday before the Orioles close the first half.

"I'll go through that same kind of regiment I went through today with the hitting," he said. "We'll probably hit in the cage Sunday since it's a day game. We won't have the field early. But do kind of the same thing and hopefully be ready to go over the All-Star break.

"Hit up some minor league affiliates and buy some spreads."

Players could be enjoying upgraded meals Monday at Single-A Frederick and Wednesday at low Single-A Delmarva, though the Orioles still are firming up his schedule.

Davis is batting .226/.320/.461 with seven doubles, a triple, 14 home runs, 26 RBIs, 30 walks and 95 strikeouts in 61 games this season. Trey Mancini has been playing first base in his absence.

Johnny Giavotella joined Davis on the field today and did some early hitting and took grounders at second base. He's on the bench again tonight.