ARLINGTON, Texas – Since Shin-Soo Choo returned to the leadoff spot, he's hit better and the Rangers have won more games.
That's more than a concidence, although Choo said Tuesday that hitting leadoff hasn't changed the kind of pitches he's seeing.
"It's who you are," Choo said. "They're not pitching where I'm hitting. So if I'm hitting nine, they pitch the same thing as what I'm used to."
Choo has hit leadoff the last eight games. The Rangers are 6-2 in those games.
Choo had two hits in Monday's win over Kansas City to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest active streak in the American League.
He's hitting .304 in May with two homers, eight doubles and eight RBIs. He's also taken four walks, which is a key to his leadoff role.
As a team, the Rangers are producing more with Choo at the top of the lineup.
"You can't start a fire without a spark," manager Jeff Banister said. "If you don't have anything at the top of the lineup doing that for you, it's tough to get that offense jump-started."
Choo's ability to get on base, Banister said, can pay off in the first inning as well as the ninth inning. A first-inning walk can extend an inning, but getting consistently on base gets more at-bats for the middle of the lineup, too.
"When he gets on base, you're almost assured of the fourth guy and possibility the fifth hitter coming to the plate," Banister said. " That rotation of the lineup is vital, getting as many at-bats throughout the game as you possibly can."
Although Choo is seeing positive results since returning to leadoff, he insists he's not any more comfortable there than hitting fifth, where the majority of his at-bats have come this season.
"All I care about is winning," Choo said. "That's the only thing I care about."
Wrist flare-up knocks Martin out of the lineup
Center fielder Leonys Martin was out of the lineup Tuesday after experiencing soreness in the left wrist he injured a week earlier in Houston.
Martin missed four games with the injury but had played the last three. The wrist flared up Monday night when he was jammed on a pitch, Banister said, but an MRI Tuesday revealed there was no fracture.
Banister was still gushing Tuesday about the throw Martin made Monday to get a runner at the plate, tender wrist and all.
"You may not see another throw like that all year," Banister said. "[Catcher Robinson] Chirinos didn't have to move. The umpire would have called it a strike."
Holland close to beginning rehab
Pitcher Derek Holland is scheduled to have a scan on his subscapular shoulder strain next Friday. Holland said he expects the results of the scan to be good enough for him to begin a rehab program.
"I've just got to wait it out now," Holland said. "It's out of my hands, but it's clean, it's getting there. Really close. I'm biting at the bit, just like you guys are."
Mitch Moreland expected back Wednesday
First baseman Mitch Moreland will get one more game at Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday before returning to Arlington. Moreland has been on a rehab assignment after having surgery to clean up his left elbow.
"All indications are that he's been good," Banister said. "He's getting at-bats, he's going to get some more at-bats tonight. He feels good. So I expect that he'll be back tomorrow."
Field could see action at shortstop
While Thomas Field was called up Monday to play second base, Banister said there may be a situation where he could see action at shortstop over Adam Rosales, the primary backup infielder.
"I think Field has a better skill set to play short than Rosales does," Banister said. "We're going to use Field as a second baseman, but I would venture to guess if we had to run those two guys out there at the same time that Field would be at short and Rosales at second."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
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