Even when the A’s offense has been firing on all cylinders this season, one question has always surfaced: How much better could it become with Khris Davis started to produce like Khris Davis again?

Once the catalyst of the A’s lineup -- hitting more home runs than any player in baseball from 2016-18 -- Davis has seen his role diminish as his struggles at the plate have mounted over the past two season. Oakland's designated hitter entered Friday’s game against the Mariners having played in just 27 of the club’s 56 games this season, batting .185/.298/.309 over 94 plate appearances. But as the A’s struggle to find consistency on offense with Tuesday’s Wild Card Series opener nearing, Davis has a golden opportunity to step up as a key contributor once again.

The stars seem to be aligning perfectly for a Davis re-awakening. The Mariners will start three left-handed starters over the four-game, season-ending series, beginning with Yusei Kikuchi on Friday. Even in a year when Davis’ numbers look disappointing, he's still managed to see lefties well, entering Friday hitting .276 in 29 at-bats against southpaws and .313 against lefty starters. Davis has also fared well in his limited playing time this month, going 6-for-23 with two doubles and a home run in eight games since Sept. 4.

The history against Seattle is also on Davis’ side, as the slugger has mashed 25 career home runs against the Mariners. In other words, if Davis is going to get back on track this season, there won’t be a better opportunity than this four-game series at the Coliseum.

“Khris is a vital part of our lineup,” A’s hitting coach Darren Bush said. “We’re facing some lefties here over the next few days, and Khris is going to get some at-bats and be able to continue what he’s been doing. Getting him feeling confident in the box is huge, because he can carry an offense real easily.

“Hopefully, over the next few days with all these lefties throwing, he’s going to get some at-bats and build his confidence.”

Whether it be from Davis or someone else, the A’s will need to find a way to regain their offensive production before the postseason. And they believe they have the pieces to do it. A lineup with talented hitters such as Marcus Semien, Matt Olson, Ramón Laureano and Tommy La Stella has too much firepower to be enduring a tough stretch like the A’s currently find themselves in for much longer. Oakland entered Friday batting .194 collectively over its past 11 games.

“A lot of indecision,” Bush said of the recent struggles on offense. “Guys want to have success and are being a little indecisive and passive, which makes you miss pitches. Then you try to get a little aggressive by expanding the zone and miss pitches you should hit. Just a little indecision going on. The guys are up there fighting and battling and will continue to.”

How are the A’s work to address those offensive woes?

“We just talk about picking a zone and staying in that zone to look for the pitch you want to hit instead of going up there trying to find the baseball,” Bush said. “Get up there, have a plan and stick to your plan. Fight to get that pitch.”