Davis removed from lineup with sore hamstring

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Considering Rajai Davis swiped his fifth base of the spring Sunday, and his third in five games, his sore right hamstring doesn't seem to be limiting him. Still, it was enough of a concern on a wet Monday afternoon that he was scratched from the Tigers' starting lineup.

Davis said Monday the hamstring has been bothering him for a few days, but that it was nothing serious. He could have played if needed, but the Tigers decided to use extra precaution.

"It was my call," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He said he could play. I just decided that I'd rather have him out of there and come back [Tuesday], see how he is."

The Tigers have a split-squad day Tuesday, sending a team to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to face the Mets while another Tigers squad hosts the Blue Jays at Joker Marchant Stadium. Davis was not on Tuesday's travel squad when the list was posted Monday morning, and he surely won't be now.

Even without the rains that eventually washed out the game between the Tigers and Nationals, Ausmus said he probably would've taken Davis out of the lineup. The weather simply gave him an easier excuse if he wanted it.

"He's been doing a lot of running. I mean, he's been playing a lot, running the bases," head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said. "He's been doing quite a bit here this spring."