Rios sits with sprained ankle, but is available

HOUSTON -- Rangers right fielder Alex Rios will be out of the lineup a couple of days with a sprained right ankle that's been troubling him. But he is available to play in the three-game series at Houston, which started on Friday at Minute Maid Park.

"I can play on it, but I would rather take a couple of days," said Rios. "We decided to give it a rest to make it feel better, make it 100 percent. I would rather give it a little rest and be 100 percent.

"By Sunday, I'm going to be in the lineup. No matter what. If they need me at any point, I'm available. I'm not going to be out completely."

Shin-Soo Choo started in right field on Friday for the Rangers.

Rios, who leads the American League with eight triples, said that there is some pain in the ankle. Rios missed three games from July 20-22 with a sprained right ankle sustained on July 19 at Toronto.

The Rangers were off Thursday after winning the final two games at Chicago against the White Sox.

"We felt like we needed to give him a break," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "He's available to hit for me tonight. And if we need him to play defense, he can do that."