Cespedes plays as DH for fourth straight game

ARLINGTON -- The Athletics hope to get Yoenis Cespedes back in the outfield soon. Athletics manager Bob Melvin wanted to put Cespedes in the outfield Monday, but he wants to see Cespedes run around before he makes the change. Melvin said the team had batting practice in the cages so Cespedes couldn't run around as much as he wanted.

Cespedes was the designated hitter for a fourth straight game. He left last Tuesday's contest against the Yankees because of left hamstring soreness. Melvin felt Cespedes looked fine scoring from second in the fifth inning Sunday.

"If you saw him run from second to home yesterday, it was a pretty good clip," Melvin said. "Hopefully he's that much further along today. If he can get in the outfield, then I can DH somebody else and use a little bit more of the roster."

Josh Reddick slid down to bat eighth in the lineup despite four hits Sunday. Melvin said it shows how deep the Athletics are offensively right now.

"Would it surprise me if Josh Reddick ended up at the top of the lineup somehow? Absolutely not," Melvin said. "After getting four hits, it's tough to be demoted in the lineup, but I think our guys know by now don't look too much in the lineup because it could change the next day."