OAKLAND, Calif. _ Khris Davis took a few shots at a Nerf hoop in the Athletics clubhouse Wednesday, then pulled the protective cover off a brand new black bat and headed to the indoor hitting area across the hall.
Whether that bat will be available when the Athletics host the American League West leading Houston Astros this weekend remains an open question.
The Athletics designated hitter has been affected by a left hip and oblique contusion since May 5, the day he collided with the outfield fence in Pittsburgh making a catch while playing the outfield. He's missed six games in all and his hitting .248 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs.
Davis is eligible to come off the injured list Saturday for Game 2 of the Astros series, but A's manager Bob Melvin said he simply doesn't know yet if it will happen.
"I mean, it all depends on how he feels, whether we feel like we need to give him a couple of live at-bats, whether it's velocity off a machine, and so we'll make that determination," Melvin said. "I know that he probably would want to if he felt great. He's a pretty important guy for us so we'll see how feels leading up to that."
Davis last homered on May 12, hitting a pair against the Seattle Mariners. Those are his only two home runs of the month, during which the Athletics have hit 41 home runs _ the fourth highest total in the American League.
