ARLINGTON -- Bartolo Colon is returning to the Rangers' rotation, and Jurickson Profar is taking over at second base after pitcher Doug Fister and infielder Rougned Odor were placed on the disabled list Tuesday.
The Rangers also activated reliever Tony Barnette off the disabled list and called up infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to serve in a utility role while Profar starts at second base.
Fister is expected to be sidelined 2-3 weeks with a strained muscle in his right hip. He has been feeling it for a couple of weeks and it really started to bother him during his five-inning outing against the Angels on Monday.
"He has been able to pitch through it, but last night was the first time it affected him," general manager Jon Daniels said.
Odor is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained left hamstring, an injury that occurred running the bases in the first inning on Monday night.
Odor is the second Rangers regular to go down with an injury in the first two weeks of the season. Center fielder Delino DeShields is sidelined until May after having surgery last week to remove a broken hamate bone in his left hand.
"Nobody feels sorry for us and we're not going to feel sorry for ourselves," manager Jeff Banister said. "This is a great opportunity for our team to grow and play."
Fister's injury reinforces why the Rangers wanted to keep Colon on the active roster even though there was no apparent room in the rotation. He is expected to start Sunday against the Astros.
"He would slide right into Doug's spot," Daniels said. "He is a veteran starter who throws a ton of strikes. He had a rough first half for Atlanta last year but beyond that, he has been a pretty consistent, quality pitcher the last 4-5 years. He throws a ton of strikes, moves the ball around and keeps hitters off balance."
Colon pitched two scoreless innings in relief on Sunday against the Blue Jays. He also started against the Athletics on April 2 and allowed one run in six innings. He has 240 career wins and needs three more to match Juan Marichal for most by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic. He is five away from Dennis Martinez, who is from Nicaragua, for most by a pitcher from Latin America.
Profar, who made the team as a utility infielder, is 2-for-15 at the plate, but also leads the Rangers with six walks. He started in four of the Rangers' first 12 games, twice at second base and twice at third base.

"You don't enjoy injuries but the silver lining is this gives a young, talented player a chance to play every day," Daniels said. "There is value in that."
Profar has 60 career games at second base, his most at any position. He was supposed to be the Rangers' starting second baseman in 2014 after Ian Kinsler was traded to the Tigers. But he sustained a shoulder injury that forced him to miss 2014 and '15. The past two years have been spent shuttling between Round Rock and the Rangers, waiting for another chance to play every day.
"I just want to be in the lineup and help the team win," Profar said. "Playing a lot is going to help me. It will help me see more pitches and just make me better. I feel good at the plate. I'm seeing the ball well. Hopefully, I will get not only walks but hits."
Barnette began the season on the disabled list with tightness in his lower back and has pitched four scoreless innings over three appearances for Double-A Frisco on a medical rehabilitation assignment. He needed just 19 pitches to get through two innings on Monday.
Kiner-Falefa is coming to the big leagues for the first time. He has played second, short, third and catcher in the Minor Leagues, and can also play the outfield in an emergency.
Rangers beat
• Veteran Triple-A Round Rock third baseman Trevor Plouffe has asked for and been given his release.
• Timothy Lincecum, on the disabled list because of a blister on his right middle finger, has resumed his throwing program. He was shut down since his last bullpen session on April 4 to allow the blister more time to heal. He is back to playing catch and is hoping to throw in the bullpen this weekend when the Rangers play in Houston.
• The Rangers brought Double-A Frisco reliever Cody Palmquist to Arlington to pitch early live batting practice. Among those taking advantage of it were Juan Centeno, Carlos Tocci, Ryan Rua, Joey Gallo and Drew Robinson.