CLEVELAND — Alex Rodriguez ran himself back into the starting lineup.

After missing three games with a strained right quadriceps, A-Rod was back at third base and batting cleanup tonight as the New York Yankees opened a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians.

As manager Joe Girardi and members of the club's medical and training staffs looked on, Rodriguez tested his leg in the outfield about three hours before the first pitch. Rodriguez did some jogging and then some half-speed sprints before playing catch for a few minutes.

He told Girardi he was fine, and a few minutes later, Rodriguez's name was back in a familiar place on the clubhouse lineup card.

"I'm excited to see him out there. He said he felt good so I told him to 'Go on, get out there but don't get too froggy,"' Girardi said. "You know, don't try leaping around too much."

Rodriguez hurt his leg while running out a fielder's choice on Sunday in Baltimore. Because of the injury, he was able to travel home to Miami to be there for the birth of his daughter. He received treatment on his leg while in Florida and rejoined the Yankees on Thursday in Chicago.

The AL's reigning MVP is batting .308 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 20 games.

Girardi said he'll monitor Rodriguez closely over the next few games. It's still possible Rodriguez could be the DH during part of the series, New York's first visit since last year's playoffs.

"To me, it's the sprinting on the bases," Girardi said. "He's going to have to run the bases no matter what."