ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said he felt it was time to return slugger Josh Hamilton to the 3-hole. He feels like the hitter has had a better approach at the plate and has "slowed the game down."

"I think he's ready to get back in there," Hamilton said. "He's our No. 3 hitter. It looks like he's back to doing what he needs to do and recognizing pitches. So I want to get him going."

Washington said moving Hamilton to fifth last weekend was about letting him think about things and maybe take some of the pressure off. Washington was asked about Hamilton's aggressive approach and if that can hurt him.

"I think aggression can be a drawback for anyone, not just Hamilton," Washington said. "It's just how you use it. The time when he was struggling, it was just out of control. When you use that word "aggression," you've got to accept what you get. Other than that, you end up using "tentative," and you don't want anyone to be tentative. It's something he had to work out for himself. He had to figure it out."

The return to the 3-spot means Nelson Cruz goes back to No. 5. The lineups:

ANGELS
CF Mike Trout
RF Torii Hunter
1B Albert Pujols
LF Mark Trumbo
DH Kendrys Morales (S)
3B Alberto Callaspo (S)
2B Maicer Izturis (S)
C Chris Iannetta
SS Andrew Romine (L)

RANGERS
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
CF Josh Hamilton (L)
DH Adrian Beltre
RF Nelson Cruz
3B Michael Young
LF David Murphy (L)
C Mike Napoli
1B Mitch Moreland (L)