Rajai Davis running again
Rajai Davis didn’t waste any time. The A’s outfielder stole second base in the first inning Tuesday night, and then turned the corner after a slow start this season and stole third base. Oakland manager Bob Melvin agreed that it was a turning point for the speedster, who has been slowed by leg issues and had only one steal in his first 21 games.
“He showed no trepidation,” Melvin said before Wednesday’s day game. “He went on the first pitch against a pretty good throwing catcher (Martin Maldonado) and then went again. It shows you he has confidence in his legs again.”
Davis then stole another base in the fifth inning Wednesday.
He missed eight games with a strained left hamstring last month, and was rested Monday night. Melvin said he probably will rest the 36-year-old every four or five days.
The two-steal effort Tuesday was Davis’ first multi-steal game of the season and 60th of his career. He had 43 steals for the Indians last year.
Praise for Wahl: Here’s another name to throw into the A’s crowded closer committee — present and future. Reliever
Bobby Wahl has thrown three scoreless innings over his past two outings, and with his fastball has always been “closer type material,” Melvin said Wednesday.
Wahl, 25, totaled 14 saves at three levels of the A’s farm system last season.
“He has a bright future,” Melvin said. “He has a really powerful fastball, and he’s gotten more comfortable with his breaking ball.”
Wahl, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2013, missed half of the 2015 season with a strained right elbow that required surgery.
“This is his time,” Melvin said. “He is taking advantage of that.” Briefly: Left-hander Sean Manaea (shoulder) felt fine after consistently hitting 94 mph in his rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday night. Melvin said the club hasn’t decided whether Manaea needs another rehab start before returning to the rotation. … Reliever John Axford (shoulder) threw 21 batting-practice pitches Wednesday and will start a rehab assignment Saturday at a location to be decided.