ARLINGTON, Texas - Mitch Moreland's ankle injury has left the Rangers thin at two positions: first base and leadoff.
Moreland said Sunday he couldn't play on a sore left ankle anymore and is headed for surgery.
Donnie Murphy was the obvious choice to plug the hole at first base. However, leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo was moved to Moreland's No. 3 spot in the batting order.
That move has manager Ron Washington scrambling to find a solution at the top of the order. Rookie Michael Choice filled the role Saturday and Sunday. Daniel Robertson hit leadoff Monday against Cleveland.
"I'll just work it. That's all I can do," Washington said. "Today [it's] Robertson. Tomorrow, maybe Choo. You might see [Rougned] Odor up there, might see [Luis] Sardinas up there. I've done Michael Choice already."
Robertson wound up hitting leadoff Monday because he replaced Leonys Martin in center field. Washington said the lefthanded-hitting Martin needed a day off and it worked out well with Cleveland starting lefty T.J. House on the mound.
The speedy Martin would potentially be an option at leadoff, but Washington said his hitting style doesn't fit the role.
"He's a slasher," Washington said. "Maybe Martin might be able to be a leadoff hitter at some point in his career, but right now he's a slasher. He can go up there and have four at-bats and see five pitches."
Shortstop Elvis Andrus has been a leadoff hitter, but Washington isn't considering him for the role.
"He's not comfortable there," Washington said. "Because it changes his approach. He thinks he's got to take pitches and he finds himself behind in the count all the time. It starts working on his mind."
Choo, on the other hand, is more comfortable in the leadoff role. Choo is 0-for-8 since being moved down to the No. 3 spot in the order on Saturday.
However, Washington is resigned to keeping Choo at third in the lineup for the foreseeable future.
"He'll get back on track. He's just missing his pitches," Washington said. "I have no other options right now."
One option would be to move No. 5 hitter Alex Rios to the third spot, but Washington said he needs Rios hitting behind cleanup hitter Adrian Beltre. Having Rios hitting behind Beltre - whom he termed a "bad-ball hitter" â results in Beltre not having to chase more pitches out of the strike zone.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
