Morgan satisfied helping any way he can

CHICAGO -- Nyjer Morgan was back in the starting lineup Saturday for the first time since Tuesday against the Padres, a span of four games in which the Indians faced all left-handed starters.

"Yeah, I'm always excited to be in the lineup, but I just come out and go about my business, cheer on my guys and every time that my name gets called up, I"ll be ready to go," said Morgan, who stole a base as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning of the second game of Cleveland's doubleheader with San Diego on Wednesday.

Morgan, who played in Japan last season after spending parts of the previous five seasons with the Pirates, National and Brewers, has impressed his new team early on. He was hitting .389 with a .520 on-base percentage, three runs scored and four RBIs in 18 at-bats entering Saturday's game.

When Michael Bourn returns from his rehab assignment, Morgan's playing time might become even more sporadic. He said he understood that was the case when he signed with the Indians and is excited for Bourn to return.

"Like I said, I'm just holding down the fort until he gets back, and then whatever my role is from there, I'll make it happen," Morgan said. "If they want me to come off the bench and do what I got to do to get us a quick run in later innings or come in as a defensive replacement, I'm all for it."

Morgan said he's been around the game long enough to know how to prepare himself physically and mentally for long layoffs between starts and coming off the bench. It's nothing new for the speedy veteran.

"If you look at my track record, I've always done stuff like this," he said. "For me, I just go about the game, I play the game right. This is what I do; I just try to help my team any way I can."