Davis playing through left middle finger injury

TORONTO -- Rajai Davis started all three games in left field for the Tigers at Rogers Centre this weekend, trying to get his bat going after ceding playing time to Tyler Collins. There might be a health reason to blame in part for Davis' downturn at the plate.

Davis has a left middle finger injury that he has been dealing with since mid-May. He didn't want to use it as the reason for his struggles, saying he doesn't put that finger on the bat when he swings. Still, Davis said, "It doesn't help."

Davis hit .300 in April, when he was splitting time with Anthony Gose in center field, and he was batting .282 on May 14. Since then, he's batting .229, albeit with enough power for 11 doubles, six triples and three home runs in 201 at-bats. As manager Brad Ausmus said Saturday, Davis can go a stretch doing little, and then hit a home run.

Davis said he jammed the finger trying to hold up on a swing. Aside from treatment, he said there's little more to be done.

"It's just got to take its course, got to heal," Davis said.