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29-16,
1st AL West

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Rangers Team Report

Yahoo! Sports - May 20, 5:20 am EDT

Inside Pitch
Notes, Quotes
Roster Report

Jurickson Profar, the heralded Rangers prospect, is back.

And this time he won't be sitting around.

Texas manager Ron Washington said Sunday that he would use the just-recalled infielder regularly while second baseman Ian Kinsler is sidelined. Kinsler was placed on the disabled list Sunday with a strained right intercostal muscle after missing the previous two games. Kinsler tried to swing Sunday, but he still had significant soreness.

If the Rangers do use Profar regularly, it will be a big change from 2012, when Profar spent most of his September call-up watching from the bench. The 20-year-old, who arrived in Arlington on Sunday afternoon, will make his 2013 debut against Oakland on Monday. Leury Garcia played second Sunday and went 0-for-3 in Texas' 11-8 win over Detroit.

After Profar was called up last September, he started just five games as the Rangers started to fade. Washington resisted the request of the front office, which suggested Profar play more. This time, the situation is different.

"He will play, but I'm not going to stop playing Garcia," said Washington, who gave the 22-year-old Garcia his seventh start in the club's first 44 games Sunday. "I can spell Elvis (Andrus) a little with these two kids."

Profar was hitting .278 (40-for-144) with 27 runs, four home runs, 19 RBIs, and 21 walks in 37 games for Triple-A Round Rock. In his last game at Triple-A on Saturday night vs. Colorado Springs, he went 3-for-4 with his first career multi-homer game, scoring three runs and driving in three. Profar had hit safely in eight straight for Round Rock at .424 (14-for-33) with six runs, two doubles, three homers, and eight RBIs in that span.

Kinsler was hit by a throw while trying to steal second base in Houston last week, then flinched while twisting away from Justin Verlander curveball Thursday and tweaked a side muscle.

It is the seventh time in his eight-year career Kinsler has ended up on the DL, but the first time since 2010.

"We don't want it to get worse," Washington said. "That area there can fool you. You think it's feeling good, and sharp movement, and there it is again."

Record:

29-15

Streak:

Won two

Past 10 Games:

8-2

NEXT: A's (Bartolo Colon, 3-2, 4.56) at Rangers (Josh Lindblom, 2013 debut)

Player Notes:

RHP Josh Lindblom is scheduled to be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to make his first major league start Monday against the A's. Lindblom is replacing Alexi Ogando, who went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday due to right biceps tendinitis. Lindblom was 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in eight games (seven starts) for Round Rock this season. His previous major league experience, 75 combined games with the Dodgers in 2011 and 2012, then 26 games with the Phillies last year, all came in relief. He has a career 4-5 big-league record with one save and a 3.31 ERA.
2B Ian Kinsler was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Sunday's game against the Tigers due to a strained right intercostal muscle. Kinsler was hit by a throw while trying to steal second base in Houston last week, then flinched while twisting away from Justin Verlander curveball Thursday and tweaked a side muscle.
INF Jurickson Profar was called up to replace 2B Ian Kinsler on the Rangers' active roster, and manager Ron Washington said the 20-year-old would receive semi-regular action. He was hitting .278 (40-for-144) with 27 runs, four home runs, 19 RBIs, and 21 walks in 37 games for Triple-A Round Rock. In his last game at Triple-A on Saturday night vs. Colorado Springs, he went 3-for-4 with his first career multi-homer game, scoring three runs and driving in three. Profar had hit safely in eight straight for Round Rock at .424 (14-for-33) with six runs, two doubles, three homers, and eight RBIs in that span. He is expected to start Monday against the A's.
LHP Derek Holland did not complete five innings in a game for the first time since Sept. 24, 2012. Holland gave up two home runs (both to Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera), eight hits and four runs despite striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.
LF David Murphy hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to push Texas into the lead against Detroit. Murphy finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs and a walk. He entered with three hits and one RBI in his previous five starts.
C A.J. Pierzynski (strained right oblique) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Sunday, and he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

Quote To Note:

"It's baseball. You can't predict anything in baseball. I'm just happy that we ended up being on the winning side of a crazy game."

—3B Adrian Beltre, after the Rangers beat the Tigers 11-8 Sunday even though Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera hit three homers.

Medical Watch:

2B Ian Kinsler (strained right intercostal muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 18. The Rangers are hopeful he will be back after the minimum stay on the DL.
RHP Alexi Ogando (right biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list May 16. He underwent an MRI on May 16 that revealed no structural issues.
RHP Colby Lewis (right flexor tendon surgery in July 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began throwing live batting practice April 8, and he pitched in extended spring training May 4. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on May 9, but his rehab was then shut down due to triceps soreness. Lewis is scheduled to resume pitching May 20 with Double-A Frisco.
C A.J. Pierzynski (strained right oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 6. He began a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on May 19 and is expected to be activated on May 21.
LHP Matt Harrison (lower-back soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7. He had surgery April 23 to repair a herniated disk. He underwent a second operation May 1.
RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began throwing live batting practice April 8. Soria suffered a setback in his recovery when he strained a muscle in his chest throwing live batting practice on April 19 at the club's spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz. The Rangers hoped to have him back by early June, but instead won't get him back until July.
RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John surgery in August 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 24. He is not expected to return until after the All-Star break.