Combating A. Miller’s slider not an easy task

OAKLAND — Rajai Davis called left-hander Andrew Miller’s slider an untouchable pitch for a right-handed batter. Sitting at his locker inside the visitors’ clubhouse at the Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon, the veteran Cleveland outfielder broke down what he feels is the best way to approach the ace reliever.

“I just think you prepare for the fastball,” Davis said. “And then, if the slider is there, and it’s in the path of your bat, you hit it. If not …”

Davis stopped, shook his head and let out a slight laugh.

If not, batters might experience what Oakland’s Khris Davis went through to end Monday’s 1-0 Indians win. Catcher Roberto Perez headed out to the mound and told Miller that he felt the A’s outfielder was sitting on the fastball, so they decided to go with a slider low, inside and in the dirt. The 2-2 offering sliced below the zone, towards Davis’ back foot and caused him to fall down, as he unsuccessfully tried to check his swing.

The awkward swing put Miller’s dominance on full display, and was still a topic of conversation a day later.

“You kind of laugh, but not at him,” Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said of Khris Davis’ strikeout swing. “You laugh almost because I’ve faced him. I’ve done it, too. I’ve swung at like a pitch-out basically from him. So, it’s literally not laughing at him. It’s just such a tough at-bat.”

Rajai Davis said Miller’s slider is nearly “untouchable” for RH batter. Red dot is one that K’d Khris Davis Monday. pic.twitter.com/Da22Qs0NJg

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 24, 2016

Rajai Davis said Miller’s slider is nearly “untouchable” for RH batter. Red dot is one that K’d Khris Davis Monday. …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com