Rangers put Kinsler on DL, recall former Indian

Top prospect Jurickson Profar will get most of the playing time at second base for the Texas Rangers while Ian Kinsler is on the 15-day disabled list with bruised ribs.

The plan for Profar, a former Spokane Indian, is a departure from last year, when he mostly sat over the final month of the season after homering in his first major league at-bat when he was called up from the minors before his 20th birthday.

Profar was not in the lineup Sunday night against Detroit after arriving from Triple-A Round Rock a few hours earlier. Leury Garcia made his third straight start in Kinsler’s place, but Profar is set for his 2013 debut today against Oakland.

“He will play, but I’m not going to stop playing Garcia,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Profar was hitting .278 at Round Rock, but hit .424 during an eight-game hitting streak that included the first multi-homer game of his career.

Kinsler initially injured his ribs when he was hit by a throw on a steal attempt in Houston last weekend.

“Ian went in the cage and when swung, he didn’t feel comfortable,” Washington said. “We didn’t want it to get worse, so along with him we decided to put him on the DL.”

MRIs set for Phillies’ Ruiz, Howard

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and first baseman Ryan Howard will have MRI exams today.

Ruiz will miss today’s game at the Miami Marlins after straining his right hamstring in a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Ruiz, who said he felt a “pop” while running the bases in the second inning, didn’t make the trip but hopes to rejoin the team on Tuesday in Miami.

Howard didn’t play due to left knee soreness. He will not join the team on the trip to Miami.

Howard says his knee’s “been acting up.” Howard, who missed 91 games last season with an Achilles tear, has four hits in his last 34 at-bats and is batting .245 with 46 strikeouts in 151 at-bats this season.

Dodgers welcome Ellis back to lineup

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis returned to the lineup after missing the last 19 games with a right quadriceps strain.

Ellis was hitting .342 with two homers and 11 RBIs when he injured his quad while running out a grounder in a win over Milwaukee on April 26.