Rajai Davis Injury: Updates on Tigers OF's Groin and Return

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 5

The Tigers announced Rajai Davis is not in the lineup for today's game:

Jason Beck of MLB.com later added Davis could still play a role in today's game:

Original Text

The Detroit Tigers open the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday but may have to do so without outfielder Rajai Davis, who is dealing with a groin injury.     

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, speaking to Jason Beck of MLB.com, said Davis was feeling better but no decision has been made whether to keep him on the Division Series roster yet:

The Tigers' public relations tweeted out on Saturday when Davis sustained the injury that it was a grade 1 strain:

According to the NYU Medical Center website, grade 1 strains are the least severe, though there is no definitive timetable for recovery because each case is different. 

It would be a huge blow to Detroit's roster if Davis can't go against Baltimore. Hitting primarily out of the No. 9 spot this season, he's given Ausmus' lineup extra length with a respectable (based on his position in the order) .320 on-base percentage and 37 extra-base hits. 

More importantly, Davis provides a speed element that the Tigers have lacked throughout this run of four straight American League Central titles. He finished third in the AL with 36 stolen bases during the regular season. Nobody else on the team had more than 15 steals. 

There are certain limitations to Davis' game that hinder his value. Doug Glanville of ESPN.com wrote that some of the things that make Davis valuable to the Tigers also hurt him, particularly on defense in center field:

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Some of Davis' challenges came to light over back-to-back games earlier this month. On Sept. 15 against the Twins, he made a nice backhand diving play that took timing and good glove control. But the next night against the same Twins team, his speed got him in trouble. He chased a slicing ball and ended up too close to the wall and not close enough to the ball. It ricocheted into the first career triple for Kennys Vargas.

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The Tigers aren't a good defensive team overall, and Davis isn't going to win any Gold Glove awards for his play in center, but what he does on offense is something that can't be replicated by any of the potential replacements Ausmus could use. 

We saw how much of a difference speed can make when Kansas City stole seven bases against Oakland in the Wild Card Game Tuesday night. Davis is the only stolen-base threat the Tigers have, so the fact his status is coming down to the wire shows how much they value him. 

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