Valencia sidelined with hamstring soreness

OAKLAND -- Danny Valencia was held out of the A's lineup before Saturday night's 5-4 loss to the Rays with lower right hamstring soreness and could miss several games.

Valencia had an MRI on Saturday afternoon and was expected to have a doctor review it Sunday, at which point the A's will be able to determine the severity of his injury.

"We'll see how he feels tomorrow," A's manager Bob Melvin said, "but it was sore enough for him today to where we didn't feel it was a good idea to play him."

Valencia's absence led Melvin to play Josh Phegley behind the plate despite a right-hander starting for Tampa Bay. Stephen Vogt, originally slated to catch, started at designated hitter in place of Valencia, who has gone 5-for-32 over his last seven games after hitting .391 in his first six with the A's.