OAKLAND -- The heart of the A’s lineup is intact again.
Khris Davis was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and immediately inserted into his usual cleanup spot for Saturday’s game against the Astros.
After Davis put on a show during batting practice before Friday’s game, the A’s held off on a decision to activate the slugger until they saw how his body responded Saturday. Davis showed up to the Coliseum pain-free, which gave them the green light to make the move.
The A’s offense has managed to do more than just keep the offensive production afloat since Davis' May 22 IL placement, slugging a total of 16 homers in the seven games Davis has missed. But, despite the strong numbers, any club figures to get a boost when it gets MLB’s home run leader since the start of the 2016 season back in the lineup.
“One of the better power hitters in the game,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of Davis. “We’ve had some guys holding down the fort. Mark Canha has done a nice job, but whenever you can get Khris in there, from a mental standpoint as well for the team, it’s a big pick-me-up.”
Davis is hoping his left hip/oblique contusion is a thing of the past. He left a game at PNC Park on May 5 after running into a side railing in left-field foul territory with what was originally diagnosed as a left hip contusion, and though he was not placed on the IL at the time, Davis found himself in and out of the lineup for the next two weeks.
The sign for Melvin that Davis was healthier than he’s been over the past month came during Friday’s batting practice, in which he launched five home runs on five swings in his final round. In previous sessions, Melvin said Davis had trouble pulling the ball and elevating.
“The BP was significantly different,” Melvin said. “During the time he was trying to get through [the injury] he was just trying to hit line drives the other way. Yesterday in batting practice, he was hitting balls out of the park and felt normal. That’s what we’ve been waiting for.”
Davis’ return comes at perhaps the perfect time. In his career against Saturday’s Astros starter Justin Verlander, Davis is 6-for-11 with four home runs, tied for his most home runs against any pitcher.
“I wish he would have taken a couple more days off because he’s done some damage,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. “But it’s obviously good for their team that he’s back. He’s one of the prolific power hitters in the game. So we’ll see how he adjusts with no rehab assignment. Hopefully he’ll be a little bit behind JV’s fastball but he’s a threat from the minute he gets activated.”
Outfielder Skye Bolt was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Davis on the active roster.
Cotton shut down
The hits just keep coming for Jharel Cotton.
Appearing close to a big league return in the final stages of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, Cotton has now been shut down by the A’s with a right hamstring strain. The injury occurred in the days after his most recent rehab appearance with Class A Advanced Stockton on Tuesday, when he tossed two perfect innings with three strikeouts.
Melvin was unsure when the right-hander might resume throwing again.
“These things usually take a little time,” Melvin said. “I’m not sure to what degree it is, but I know that everything that he’s built upon now, he probably would have been the first guy back among the injured guys. That’s on hold for the time being.”
Estrada update
Marco Estrada will start playing catch Monday for the first time since landing on the 10-day IL in April with a lumbar strain.
Estrada was 0-2 with a 6.85 ERA and a .242 batting average against in five starts. He pitched well in his first three outings, posting a 2.76 ERA, but took the loss in each of his last two starts, allowing 13 runs on 14 hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Lefties progressing
Sean Manaea threw all of his pitches during a 30-pitch bullpen session before Saturday’s game and is scheduled to throw live batting practice at Stockton. Jesus Luzardo, the A’s No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, threw two innings and 30 pitches during a simulated game in Arizona on Saturday. Both left-handers are rehabbing from shoulder injuries.