Rajai Davis will not start in Game 3 for Tigers
Unfortunately for both the Detroit Tigers and their center fielder the speedy Rajai Davis will not be in the starting lineup Sunday for game three of the American League Division Series between the Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles currently lead the five-game series 2-0. Game three is going to be played at the Tigers’ park in Detroit, Comerica Park, so the homefield advantage may help Detroit but the Orioles’ need just one more win and the best of five series will be over and Detroit will miss their chance to win the World Series once again.
Detroit went to the American League Championship Series in 2011 and 2013 to only to be defeated by the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox, respectively. In 2012 they won the American League Pennant but were swept by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series 4-0.
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Davis, 33, has had what could be seen as a breakout season with Detroit in 2014. He posted the second highest regular season batting average of his career at .282 and tied his career high in home runs with eight. Not a power hitter but a speed demon on the basepaths, Davis set a career high 51 RBI and stole 36 bases in 134 games which is the third highest number of games in his nine-years in the big leagues.
It’s a shame that Davis ended up injured here in the playoffs but he wasn’t even able to make it through batting practice Sunday morning suffering from a pelvic ligament strain, according to Jason Beck at MLB.com.
Ezquiel Carrera replaced Davis in centerfield during game two. Carrera while speedy like Davis, misread a ball in center that dropped in front of him for a leadoff single which is likely why Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus left his options for Sunday open, which included utility man Don Kelly.
Kelly will get the start today for Davis in center. Kelly replaced Davis in center for three games in September. He is 2-for-7 with a strikeout in his career against the Orioles game three starter Bud Norris.