A’s to Pittsburgh means some left field action for Khris Davis

BOSTON – Following the conclusion of their three-game set in Boston on Wednesday, the A’s move on to Pittsburgh, their first National League park. That means slugger Khris Davis gets to flash some defense and the pitching staff must dust off its plate approach.

The reigning home run king played a career-low 11 games in the field last season, all in left field, making the putout on all 17 chances that came his way. Lifetime Davis has a .983 field percentage in 496 games in left.

“He’s going to play some outfield” said Melvin. “I don’t know if it will be every day. We have an off day ahead of it and an off day on the backside of it. So, he’s going to be rested. I know he’s working hard taking balls in the outfield, which he’s always been really good at. We want him in the lineup, that means some games in left.”

Mired in the midst of their longest losing streak since 2017, the change in scenery and strategy may just be the shakeup that Oakland needs.

“It’s a little different in the National League game,” Melvin noted. “You’ve got your pitcher hitting and K.D. will play the outfield, and we’ll add somebody to the bench before we get there. We’re just in a little bit of a funk right now and it kind of came to a head in all facets last night.”

Just as Davis gets to break out the glove, the A’s pitchers get to swing some lumber. While not much is expected from a hurler taking hacks, there is hope that the ninth position in the lineup can contribute in some fashion and the work begins early.

“It’s something that we start a couple of weeks ahead of time and we incrementally have them bunt, then swing, then slash, then hit-and-run and then hit on the field,” explained manager Bob Melvin. “We want to get through those games with guys being healthy and if we can get some bunts down and get some guys over, I think at the end of the day that’s a good result for us.

“We don’t expect to get a whole lot of production out of the spot. We just want to be able to get some guys over in situations when we need to.”

Last season Oakland pitchers went a combined 3-for-21 in 10 games at National League parks, with the team splitting wins and losses in those matchups.

The successful swingers were Daniel Mengden, Brett Anderson and Sean Manea, who each contributed a single.