Davis earns DH nod in middle game

SEATTLE -- Brewers manager Ron Roenicke did not worry about using a young player, 25-year-old Khris Davis, in the sometimes-trying designated hitter role on Saturday. It was only his seventh Major League start.

"He's been coming off the bench, and it's a little like that, how you treat your DHing," Roenicke said. "It's like being a pinch-hitter, only you do it three or four times. Hopefully, five times.

"He's not a guy that you worry about too much, about him being too nervous or two amped up. He's got a pretty good idea. When you talk to him before he goes to hit, he's thinking and trying to come up with a plan. I think his temperament fits pinch-hitting, fits the occasional starting. It's a good mentality to have."

Davis welcomed the at-bats, saying he simply wanted to "do something while I'm here."

"Some players handle [the DH role] better than others," said Davis, who said his Minor League games in the role were, 'pretty good.' I'm pretty good at flushing away bad ABs. I feel like I'm a patient person. It's pretty easy for me to just take off my [batting] gloves and do something. Maybe go ride the bike and release."

Davis is one of the Brewers' young players with options who could be impacted by third baseman Aramis Ramirez's pending return from the disabled list. Ramirez is expected to DH against the Rangers on Tuesday.

But Davis has made a positive impression on Roenicke and the rest of the Brewers' brass in his second stint in the Majors this season, batting .348 (8-for-23) in his first 13 games after taking suspended outfielder Ryan Braun's spot on the roster. Davis had two hits and made two terrific catches in left field during a game against the Giants last week, and worked a walk on Friday ahead of Yuniesky Betancourt's game-breaking grand slam.

"I feel like I've done some things to help the team win," Davis said. "I feel good with these guys around me. … I feel like everybody here is working together, if anything. At the end of the day, we all want to play, but we also want to win. That puts smiles on faces."