After two absences, Rollins starts at DH

TORONTO -- Jimmy Rollins returned to the starting lineup Wednesday, but as a designated hitter.

Rollins did not start the previous two games after tweaking his right groin Sunday against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. It is unclear if Rollins will be back on the field defensively for Thursday's series finale.

"I'm encouraged with him DH-ing tonight," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "That's a step in the right direction. He's feeling a lot better today than yesterday, so that fact that he's in the lineup as a hitter is a step in the right direction, of him moving along.

"What he wanted to do was take a pregame yesterday on defense. So he'll do a step above that pregame on the defensive side [Wednesday], go a little bit more side to side."