The Rangers are prepared to bring Shin-Soo Choo off the disabled list on Friday and plug him in as the right fielder and lead-off hitter for the series opener at Houston.

Choo has been on the disabled list since April 9 because of a strained right calf. The club on Thursday cleared a spot for him on the 25-man roster by returning left-handed reliever Andrew Faulkner to Triple-A Round Rock.

Manager Jeff Banister indicated rookie Nomar Mazara, who replaced Choo , will switch to left field. Mazara worked out in left during the three-game series at Oakland.

Rougned Odor has hit lead-off in 22 games during Choo’s absence. Odor has brought power to the position, with five homers in 101 at-bats, but not the needed on-base component. He is hitting .277 with a .291 on-base percentage as the lead-off hitter.

“He benefits and we benefit from Roogie being a good hitter that has power,” Banister said in discussing Odor as a lead-off hitter. “He’s not the on-base guy yet.”

Choo has a career on-base percentage of .390 when hitting lead-off.