Butler is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Butler had started two straight games and even had a three-hit performance in Tuesday's bout to pull his batting average above the Mendoza Line, but he'll still get the day off Friday. Khris Davis will move into the DH spot for him, while Coco Crisp slots into left field for Davis.

Butler is out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Butler had served as the Athletics' designated hitter in three of the last four games, but that didn't really get him going, as he went 1-for-9 in those contests to drop his season batting average to .195. Manager Bob Melvin figures to rotate Butler, Mark Canha, and Coco Crisp into the lineup until one of the three starts to catch fire, limiting the at-bats for all players in the interim.

Butler will bat sixth as the designated hitter in Wednesday's matchup against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Butler has both struggled at the plate and to find at bats. After a pinch-hit double Monday, Butler will get a chance to make another start at DH. He's hitting just .222 in 27 at-bats, but does have three hits in his last seven. He replaces Billy Burns in the lineup while Coco Crisp moves over to center field.

Butler is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

With Chris Coghlan slated to serve as the DH in the series opener against Kansas City, Butler will head to the bench for the sixth time this season. Butler has gone 0-for-8 with two strikeouts in the team's last three games, lowering his early-season average to .167. Any mixed-league appeal he had left is fading fast.

Butler is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Butler drew into the lineup for each of the team's first three games of the season but was then relegated to bench duty for five straight. He'll return to the lineup Tuesday, serving as the team's designated hitter while batting fifth against lefty Hector Santiago.

Butler remains out of the lineup Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Butler went 3-for-10 with two doubles over the first three games of the regular season, but he has not come off the bench since. The A's will use their sixth different designated hitter in six days Monday, as Chris Coghlan will work there for the first time this season.

Butler is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

With the A's opening their season against three consecutive southpaws, Butler started each of the first three games, going 3-for-10 with a pair of doubles. He should be a consistent presence in the lineup when Oakland faces a lefty, but Butler may find that at-bats against right-handed pitching are tough to come by. Jed Lowrie will serve as the DH in Thursday's game.

Butler went 2-for-3 while batting sixth against White Sox lefty Chris Sale on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

With another lefty on the mound Tuesday, Butler figures to handle the same role. There is a legitimate question as to how much he will play against right-handed starters, however, as Chris Coghlan's numbers against righties will likely prompt the A's to play him in left field, while Khris Davis slides into the DH role on those days.

Butler's playing time could be in jeopardy following the A's acquisition of Chris Coghlan on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The addition of Coghlan, a left-handed hitter, could potentially limit Butler's at-bats even further for 2016. Coghlan, who hit just .116 vs. southpaws last season, will likely get most of the starts in left field against right-handed pitching, which will presumably slide Khris Davis to the DH role and Butler to the bench. When Coghlan isn't playing, there's a good chance Butler battles Coco Crisp for at-bats at the DH position. Butler hit just .238 with nine home runs over the first five months of 2015 and will have to improve upon those numbers if he wants to see consistent playing time.

Butler is due to play a more limited role with the acquisition of Khris Davis, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butler, who served in a DH role in 136 games last year for the A's, is likely to see that number drop this year. If newly acquired Khris Davis moves into the everyday left field role for the A's as expected, Coco Crisp would get a lot of starts at DH, which would severely cut into Butler's at-bats. Given his limited upside, Butler would need a full-time role to be useful in most formats, and that no longer looks like it will be the case in 2016.