Angels put pitcher C.J. Wilson on 15-day disabled list

The Angels placed struggling left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right ankle before Thursday night’s game against the Texas Rangers.

Wilson underwent an MRI test and was diagnosed with a “moderate” sprain that will sideline him for two to four weeks, General Manager Jerry Dipoto said. The Angels are hopeful that Wilson will miss only one or two starts.

Wilson suffered the injury while attempting to field a ground ball in Wednesday’s 8-7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Anaheim.

Wilson (8-6) has given up 19 earned runs and 31 hits, including five home runs, in 16 2/3 innings during his last four starts, his earned-run average shooting from 3.34 to 4.33, and he failed to pitch into the fifth inning in two of those games.

Though Wilson’s recent struggles are not related to his ankle injury, Manager Mike Scioscia said the pitcher, who reported to the team’s spring-training complex in Tempe, Ariz., to rehabilitate the ankle, could benefit from a little time off.

“C.J. has been kind of banging his head against the wall trying to get back to where he knows he can be,” Scioscia said. “Maybe just by exhaling a little bit and getting a little different perspective, he can get to that result a little quicker, and he will. He’s too good of a pitcher to not find it.”

The Angels recalled right-hander Drew Rucinski, 25, from double-A Arkansas, where he was 7-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 17 starts, but with the All-Star break beginning Monday the Angels won’t need a fifth starter until July 22 in Baltimore.

Rucinski, who spent 2011-13 pitching independent-league ball, will serve as a long reliever for the four-game series against the Rangers. To make room for Rucinski on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated left-hander Nick Maronde, who had a 13.50 ERA and 15 walks in 7 1/3 innings at Arkansas, for assignment.

The Angels also recalled reliever Cory Rasmus from triple-A Salt Lake and sent reliever Cam Bedrosian, who pitched in each of the Angels’ last two games against the Blue Jays, back to Arkansas.