Moreland to work out with Rangers on Thursday

ARLINGTON -- Mitch Moreland will return to the Rangers following three rehab games with Double-A Frisco.

Moreland can't be activated off the disabled list until Friday, but he'll work out with the club before its day game against the Athletics on Thursday.

The Rangers will face the Cardinals for a three-game series at Busch Stadium after Moreland's return. With the absence of a designated hitter at a National League park, manager Ron Washington said that he hasn't thought about where he'll play Moreland and Lance Berkman.

"With Moreland's first time back, I may just take the time [for Berkman to pinch-hit], and it just might be a break for him," Washington said. "I don't think [Berkman] has any sentimental feelings about being back in St. Louis. If he does, he can come into my office, and I might think about it."

Moreland went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and two RBIs in his final rehab assignment on Wednesday. He went 6-for-9 in his last two games after starting his assignment going 0-for-3 as the DH.

Berkman was the DH on Wednesday after playing first base on Tuesday. Washington thought he'd be pushing Berkman if he put him at first on consecutive days.

Instead Robinson Chirinos manned first base in his first start there in the Majors. He was called up on Tuesday after the Rangers optioned Chris McGuiness to Triple-A Round Rock and placed Jeff Baker on the DL. Chirinos, who saw action at catcher, first base and third base at Round Rock, went 3-for-12 with two doubles in three starts with the Rangers from May 10-20.

"Even if I'm playing first base in my first game, I'm excited just to be here and be in the lineup," Chirinos said. "I'm just going to go out there, have fun and help the club win."