Tigers take 'precautionary measures' with Davis

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As of Thursday, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had left fielder Rajai Davis penciled into his lineup for Friday's game against the Braves at Champion Stadium. But those plans had changed a day later, as Davis was replaced by Ezequiel Carrera.

Davis, who has been battling a sore right hamstring, also isn't scheduled to play against the Blue Jays on Saturday in Dunedin, Fla. He hasn't made a Grapefruit League appearance since this past Sunday, but he said the hamstring is "doing well."

"It's not really bothering me, it's just a little tight," Davis said. "Precautionary measures. I think the season's more important. Going into the season healthy, I think that's more important."

Davis is 12-for-31 (.387) with three doubles, five steals and a .941 OPS this spring, after signing a two-year deal with Detroit in the offseason. The 33-year-old believes that if this were the regular season, he would be playing.

Ausmus said Davis could play on Sunday or Monday and should be fine for the start of the season.

"He actually feels good, but we wanted to test him, running-wise," Ausmus said. "Leg injuries, you just want to make sure it's gone, especially with a speed guy."