BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 04: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after striking out against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 4, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Orioles' Davis nearing MLB record with 0-for-40 hitless streak

7 years ago
G Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Chris Davis' never-ending nightmare keeps getting worse.

The beleaguered Baltimore Orioles first baseman failed to record a hit in two at-bats against the New York Yankees on Saturday, extending his hitless streak to 0-for-19 to begin the season and 0-for-40 dating back to September 2018.

Davis is now just six at-bats shy of tying Eugenio Velez's dubious major-league record for the longest hitless streak by a non-pitcher at 0-for-46. Velez set the mark during a two-season run with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers between 2010-11; his big-league career ended following his 0-for-37 run to start the 2011 season.

The 33-year-old Davis turned in one of the worst seasons in MLB history last year when he slashed .168/.243/.296 for the 115-loss Orioles. His most recent hit - a second-inning double off Chicago White Sox pitcher James Shields - was recorded Sept. 14.

This year, Davis has already struck out in 11 of his 19 at-bats, though he's also walked four times and recorded a pair of RBIs. During the Orioles' home opener Thursday, he struck out three times and was booed by the Camden Yards crowd.

On Saturday, Davis pinch-hit for Joey Rickard in the sixth inning and picked up an RBI by grounding into a fielder's choice. In the eighth, he came to the plate with the bases loaded and had a chance to re-write the narrative but grounded out to first base.

A two-time league leader in home runs, Davis signed a seven-year, $161-million contract with Baltimore before the 2016 season. The Orioles owe him $92 million over the next four years, $42 million of which is deferred and will be paid out in installments through 2037, according to Cot's Contracts.

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