First string gets back in lineup

ARLINGTON -- First baseman Mitch Moreland and outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Michael Choice were all back in the Rangers' lineup on Tuesday after sitting out Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Choo is dealing with a sore left ankle, and the Rangers don't expect him to be at full strength the rest of the season. He was at designated hitter on Tuesday and said the two days off helped significantly.

"I think this is the best it's felt since I hurt it," Choo said. "I feel like [manager Ron Washington] really cares about my ankle and has been good about getting me a day off or in the DH spot. I don't like DH, but I want to make the ankle better and we have four months to go."

Moreland missed Sunday with a sore back and left foot. He took a complete day off on Sunday, and that paired nicely with the scheduled off-day on Monday.

"Just the normal aches and pains everybody goes through this time of year," Moreland said.

Choice fouled a ball of his left shin on Wednesday in Minnesota. He played on Thursday, but the shin flared up on the flight to Washington. He spent the weekend getting treatment on it and was back in left field on Monday.

"When I did it, it didn't feel too good, so now I wear a shin guard," Choice said.