BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Davis’ Hamstring Is Feeling Better

Designated hitter Chili Davis said his strained left hamstring felt better Tuesday than it did Monday night, but the Angels’ top hitter is not expected to return until Friday at the earliest.

“If I can play I’m going to play, but I’m not going to do something that will keep me out of the lineup for two months, either,” said Davis, who ranks second in the American League in batting (.359) and second in on-base percentage (.464). “It’s more day to day than anything.”

Manager Marcel Lachemann said it’s possible Davis could go on the disabled list, but the team will wait a few days to see how Davis responds to treatment before making a decision. Davis was examined by team physician Lewis Yocum during Tuesday night’s game.

Davis injured the leg on his eighth-inning double against the Royals Monday night and aggravated it while beating out a fielder’s choice in the ninth. Lachemann said he will probably rotate the DH position in Davis’ absence, using it to give position players a night off from playing the field.

“We could make it a ‘Why us?’ situation or we could make it a positive, dig down and so something extra to make up for his absence,” Lachemann said of the prospect of Davis going on the disabled list. “We’re not going to replace Chili, but if we’re a one-man offense, we’re not going to win this thing anyway.”

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Second baseman Damion Easley’s previously sprained right wrist is fine, but his bat isn’t, so Lachemann gave Easley and his 0-for-22 skid a night off Tuesday.

Easley, whose average has slipped to .201, has hit some balls hard during the slump--he lined out twice against Chicago Sunday--but Lachemann said he has been chasing too many high pitches.

“We’re not the only team with advance scouts, and when they spot a vulnerability they exploit it,” Lachemann said. “You have to make adjustments. The guys who stay here either don’t have any major holes or they’re able to fight those things off to their advantage.”

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Center fielder Jim Edmonds extended his hitting streak to 16 with an infield single in the third inning Tuesday night. Catcher Jorge Fabregas extended his hitting streak to nine with a second-inning single. . . . The AL West has made the most dramatic improvement of the league’s three divisions, winning 29 more games through Monday than its teams did last season. The East has lost 25 more games and the Central seven more than they did in 1994.