Baltimore Orioles: Chris Davis returns from oblique injury vs. Cubs
After missing 27 games, first baseman Chris Davis is set to return to the Baltimore Orioles as they open the second-half of the 2017 MLB season.
The Baltimore Orioles schedule resumes Friday with a three-game weekend series against the reigning MLB champions Chicago Cubs as the Orioles welcome back slugger Chris Davis after a one-month absence.
Per an announcement by the Baltimore Orioles, Davis has been reinstated from the 10-day DL. Davis suffered a Grade 1 oblique strain June 13 against the Chicago White Sox that placed him on the 10-day DL. Here’s footage of the injury:
According to MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli, Davis is back in Baltimore with the team and is expected to appear in the starting lineup Friday after a two-game rehab effort with both the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and Fredrick Keys. Davis went 1-for-8 with one walk and three strikeouts in his brief rehab stint.
Evidently, the Orioles slugger had some rust to shake off after a mighty hack that sent his bat flying over the first baseman into the end of the infield dirt.
Chris Davis rehab off to a good start in @FrederickKeys #Orioles pic.twitter.com/zqrb1zVnez
— Matt Byrd (@MattByrd_) July 10, 2017
The Orioles slugger returns to action batting .226 with 14 home runs and 34 RBIs as he returns to first base Friday night against the Cubs with rising star Trey Mancini returning to the outfield. Mancini didn’t disappoint as he filled the void for Davis over the last month and finished June hitting .340 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs.
Many assumed the Orioles might improve with Davis out of the lineup, but that failed to happen as the Orioles went 11-14 while Davis was sidelined. Despite his massive strikeout rate, Davis still is one of the best power hitters in MLB.
Next: Orioles must follow Chicago’s lead, trade with local rival
The Orioles, who ended the first half on a two-game winning streak, will try to continue their winning ways as they welcome the Cubs to Baltimore. Despite sitting 7.5 games back from first place in the American League East Division, the Orioles are just four games for the final AL wild card spot.