Showalter on Davis not starting and lineup changes

OAKLAND, Calif. - With his batting average at its lowest point since he went 1-for-5 opening day, first baseman Chris Davis is not starting tonight. He is fine physically, but he has just two hits over 25 at-bats his last seven games and manager Buck Showalter will give him a day off and potentially more than that.

"Just give him a day or so," Showalter said during his pregame media session. "He's fine physically. As fine as anyone can be this time of year. He's available. Just giving him a day, kind of restart. We all need it now and then. Let him have a day or so. We'll see.

"We'll see if we take two. Lot depends on what happens over the next 24 to 48 hours with some work that he is going to do."

For the season, Davis is batting .212/.311/.427 with nine doubles, a triple, 18 homers and 41 RBIs. His OPS of .739 is down from last season's mark of .792 and well down from the 1.004 he put up in 2013 and the .923 of 2015.

"Chris is a guy that when he's good, he can really carry it for an extended period of time," Showalter said. "When he struggles, it can be a challenge for him. We're going to need him these last six weeks or so. I have a lot of confidence that he's going to be the guy that we can count on."

Davis has not had an extended run of good hitting this year like we've seen in past seasons. But Showalter doesn't want him looking back right now, just ahead.

"Whatever is behind us, one thing I told him, 'Whatever got to this point, let's go forward.' It was disappointing for us yesterday," Showalter added. "We had a chance to win a series in a tough place. Just didn't happen. You can't live too much in the past. In this job, you can't have off-days mentally and emotionally. It's a challenge for everybody. Chris is not the only one."

Taking Davis out of the middle of the lineup led to other changes in tonight's batting order. Tim Beckham is up to the leadoff spot, Adam Jones is hitting fourth and Mark Trumbo, who is hitless in his last 22 at-bats, is batting sixth.

Showalter said Davis sitting did impact some of those other moves.

"A little bit. Adam, I think is leading our club with people in scoring position," Showalter said. "Adam can hit anywhere and it's not an ego-driven thing for him. Players don't make near the big deal that others make of batting order. Everybody has had experience hitting just about everywhere in the lineup.

"I'm really impressed with Timmy's approach. Listening to him articulate what he is trying to do at the plate. Pretty impressive. If he doesn't get three hits tonight, it doesn't have anything to do with the batting order. Adam, there are a lot of things you can do. I'm very appreciative of a very versatile lineup that is not very ego driven."

Beckham has not hit first with the Orioles. But he hit leadoff for seven games with the Rays, batting .226 (7-for-31). Jones has hit fourth 15 games this year, batting .224 with three homers and eight RBIs.

Ryan Flaherty did not play for Double-A Bowie, which had an 11 a.m. game today. He was just getting a day off on his rehab assignment. The Orioles are considering adding Flaherty for the Seattle series that begins Monday. Flaherty's 20-day rehab assignment and that of Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander runs through next Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Showalter got good reports on Hunter Harvey, who pitched two scoreless innings last night for short-season Single-A Aberdeen.

"He was really good," he said. "Umpire squeezed him a little bit early. He touched 97, throwing 94 to 96 mph. Curveball without any caution. Looked like a guy, I don't want to say better than the level because he has another outing there, but it's exciting to see where he's come. It's been a long road for him."

Showalter said Harvey will pitch again for Aberdeen next Wednesday. He could move up after that, but Showalter is not ready to reveal that yet. He did say some of his outings will not be a week apart and could come with less rest that that.