Rangers lineup gaining traction as Shin-Soo Choo re-enters picture

The Rangers’ lineup Wednesday night should have looked familiar.

Especially recently.

For the eighth time since Sept. 12, Rangers’ manager Jeff Banister had written out the same batting order.

It included Carlos Gomez leading off, with Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran rounding out the top third. Adrian Beltre, Rougned Odor and Jonathan Lucroy in the Nos. 4-6 slots, and Mitch Moreland, Nomar Mazara and Elvis Andrus the Nos. 7-9 hitters.

It’s not only the most frequent lineup of late, but it’s also Banister’s most-used lineup of the season.

“I like the structure of it. The top of the lineup can hurt you in a number of ways,” he said. “The middle of the lineup, when they’re swinging the bat well, can also lengthen it out.”

Two other lineups have been used five times. One of those is identical to Wednesday’s except Gomez and Mazara are switched.

Andrus not only has the speed to create his own runs, but with the best offensive season of his career, he also has helped generate more offense hitting in front of the top of the order.

“It’s the most lengthy lineup we have,” Banister said. “It’s hard, in my opinion, for a pitcher to navigate through and find outs.”

Change with Choo

Shin-Soo Choo was 2 for 5 with a homer and a walk Wednesday in his third Arizona Instructional League game. He’ll return to Arlington on Thursday and could be activated Friday for the final series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Choo was 7 for 15 with a double, homer and four walks. He also had a stolen base over 21 innings.

Choo’s potential return for the postseason will alter Banister’s most frequent lineup. Choo is likely to be reinserted into the leadoff spot, which would push Gomez to the No. 8 spot and put Mazara on the bench. Beltran and Choo could both be used in right field or as the designated hitter.

“I think it’s beneficial to have Beltran able to play the outfield also,” Banister said. “He’s told me he likes going out there. I just don’t think every day in the regular season is beneficial to him. I do believe going out and running around the outfield does liven the body up.”

Banister declined to speculate how Choo would be used if he’s available for the postseason. The club still wants to see how he responds to major league pitching in the final three games against the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend.

“The expectation is he’s going to continue to do it as long he feels the body is stable enough, feels strong enough and capable of going out and doing it,” Banister said.

This story was originally published September 28, 2016 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Rangers lineup gaining traction as Shin-Soo Choo re-enters picture."