HOUSTON - Mitch Moreland is making his second-career start in left field for the Texas Rangers Monday night against the Houston Astros.
Moreland, who has started 19 games at DH this season due to Prince Fielder's arrival this season as the team's new everyday first baseman, has only started three other games playing in the field, two of which came at first base.
Rangers manager Ron Washington explains his decision to start Moreland in left tonight was due to Minute Maid Park's smaller left field dimensions.
"I wanted to try to get Mitch on the field, to get him more involved," Washington said. "And I said 'If I'm ever going to get him on the field in left field, with this short left porch, I think I'll do it today.'"
Washington said there is a possibility Moreland, who has only one homer on the season, but is hitting a respectable .301, will get to see more playing time in the field than just Monday night during the three-game series against the Astros.
"Maybe I'll give somebody else a DH day tomorrow and I can get Mitch on the field again, get him to back-to-back," Washington said. "He's been out of the lineup for a while and I think if I can get him active in the next couple days, where he's on the field, it might get him going again."
Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey
