"With injured left fielder Josh Willingham out a few days, Hideki Matsui will spend more time with his glove than expected.

Manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that Matsui could play "multiple games" in left field, if Willingham remains sidelined during the A's upcoming road games against the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

Playing in National League ballparks means no designated hitter. And the power-starved A's can't afford to have their top two home run hitters out of the lineup at the same time.

Matsui had been in line to start in right field once in each city. Instead, he will reacquaint himself with the position he has played 582 times in his major league career -- but only 18 times since 2009.

Willingham, who leads the A's in home runs (10) and RBIs (42), had to come out of Friday's game after aggravating an injury to his left Achilles. He is listed as day-to-day because the A's remain confident he can avoid the disabled list.

On Saturday, Adam Rosales made his fourth career start in the left field. Because he makes his living as a utility player, Rosales was unfazed to see his name in the lineup as an outfielder. "