Wondering what's next for Davis on road trip

The baseball world's obsession with Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is fueled by the latest pitching matchups on the first leg of the road trip. No one seems to be pumping the brakes on it.

The trick is knowing how much to read into the presence of three left-handers starting for the Red Sox, beginning tonight with former Orioles farmhand Eduardo Rodriguez.

Manager Brandon Hyde has excluded Davis from the lineup against three left-handers, but included him on other days. Davis sat Wednesday night against Athletics right-hander Frankie Montas, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning and tying the record for consecutive hitless plate appearances.

Hyde hasn't been predictable.

The task of finding more favorable matchups for Davis really is complicated at Fenway Park. He's 5-for-27 (.185) with a home run and 14 strikeouts against Rodriguez, 10-for-50 (.200) with a double, four home runs and 16 strikeouts against Saturday starter Rick Porcello, 11-for-43 (.256) with two home runs and 20 strikeouts against Sunday starter David Price and 2-for-22 (.091) with nine strikeouts against Monday starter Chris Sale.

I don't know how many games he'll play or how many at-bats he'll receive, but he's beginning to make solid contact and a ball figures to fall in for a hit before the Orioles get back home.

Has to happen. Right?

I mean, John Means gives up three infield hits in one inning and Davis can't leg out a dribbler or hit one in the Bermuda Triangle?

Still nothing since that double on Sept. 14, but three of the last four balls he's put in play have exit velocities of 102.2 or higher, according to Statcast. And there's still that vacated left side of the infield if he wants to slap a ball over there.

Davis has been booed and cheered at home, the reception much more favorable in the Oakland series. The only alternative now is silence, fans seated with arms folded.

Everyone on the club seems to prefer the ovations. Davis expressed his appreciation yesterday. So that part is working out.

All of it is almost enough to distract from the 37 home runs surrendered by the pitching staff, which actually is a far bigger issue than Davis. The Orioles can win games with Davis going 0-for-4 or leaning on the dugout railing. It's much harder with baseballs landing in the seats.

"I haven't seen this many in a short amount of time," Hyde said. "I think we just continue to stay behind our guys. We continue to improve and try to get better. Continue to pitch to a plan and work on our location. Work on being unpredictable."

The Red Sox began yesterday tied for second in the majors with 23 home runs allowed and their 6.35 ERA was 27th. They sat in last place in the American League East, just happy to finally make it home.

Are the Orioles catching them at the right time or running into an angry team that's going to be dangerous?

"We're an angry team that they're running into," Hyde said, spinning the question in another direction.

"We haven't played our best baseball this last week. We were pretty good the first five games or so, but this last week hasn't been our best game. We didn't play real good defense (yesterday). We've just got to get back to executing our pitches a little bit better.

"I like the way we grinded out at-bats. I give it to our guys for fighting back into that game. I thought we were scrappy. ... We're down 7-1 and we get their closer in the game in the ninth inning. I was happy the way we came back. I think we're going to play like that. I want to believe that our guys do have fight in them. I think we've shown that so far, so we're going to continue."