With righty on the hill, Ackley back in lineup

NEW YORK -- After resting three straight days, including Monday's off-day, second baseman Dustin Ackley was back in the Mariners' starting lineup against the Yankees on Wednesday, shifted back up to No. 2 by manager Eric Wedge.

Wedge sat Ackley against two lefties -- Tommy Milone of the A's on Sunday and CC Sabathia of the Yankees on Tuesday -- but had him back in against right-hander Phil Hughes on Wednesday.

Ackley said he spent the time as he normally would, working in the batting cage and staying prepared. He drew a walk in a pinch-hit appearance late in Tuesday's 4-3 loss, but he's eager for more.

"I feel ready," Ackley said. "I felt ready every day, so we'll see what happens."

Ackley has been dealing with a sore left ankle, left over from his offseason bone spur surgery, but he said the time off didn't affect his soreness.

"It feels the same, no matter what," Ackley said. "I think it actually feels better when I'm playing than when I'm not because you get the adrenaline flowing. The days I feel it the most are the ones I don't play, so it doesn't matter to me. I'm ready to go every day -- whatever they want me to do."

Wedge said there was nothing more to Ackley's time off than trying to get the best matchups against a couple of left-handed pitchers. Now he's putting the second baseman into the No. 2 spot in the order, which was juggled on Sunday when Kyle Seager -- previously hitting second -- was dropped to the No. 3 spot.

"We've got a right-hander on the mound, so I wanted to keep Seager in the three-hole and I needed to plug somebody in the two-hole," Wedge said. "Ack's been up there more than anybody. He seemed like the best candidate. We'll let those three lefties go up there and see if they can get us started."