CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians‘ injury-riddled pitching staff will go into the second game of their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday missing another arm.

Reliever Evan Marshall was removed from Monday’s game in the eighth inning with right elbow soreness.

“The way he termed it Youth Jerome Baker Jersey , he flicked the nerve in his elbow. Those were his words. We’ll know a lot more (Tuesday),” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

It’s possible Marshall may have to be placed on the disabled list on Tuesday, which means the Indians would have to recall another reliever from Triple-A Columbus.

On Sunday, the Indians placed starter Carlos Carrasco on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow contusion. The Indians on Monday also signed left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski to a minor league contract, with an eye toward eventually adding him to their banged-up bullpen.

With a 6-2 win Monday in the first game of the series, Cleveland is 6-2 this year against the White Sox, who go into Tuesday’s game with a five-game losing streak. The White Sox (24-47) are a season-worst 23 games below .500.

The pitching matchup Tuesday night will be identical to the one when the same two teams faced each other on Thursday in Chicago: White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon vs. Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger.

In that game in Chicago last week, the White Sox won 5-2, although Rodon (0-1, 3.60) did not figure in the decision. He pitched five innings, giving up two runs on two hits, with four strikeouts and three walks, throwing 100 pitches.

“I don’t want to make that excuse. When you show up at this level Youth Brian O'Neill Jersey , it’s time to compete,” Rodon told reporters, “A little inconsistent today. A little everywhere. Try to get that back on track. Fastballs in, that’s the key for me. I have a good fastball, just have to throw it.”

Clevinger (5-2, 3.15) took the loss but he pitched well, working seven innings, giving up one earned run on five hits, with 11 strikeouts and one walk. He threw 99 pitches.

Last year, Rodon started one game against the Indians, a 3-1 Chicago win on July 30 in which Rodon did not get a decision. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits, with nine strikeouts and two walks. In 11 career appearances against Cleveland Rodon is 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA.

Clevinger has pitched well lately.

In his last four starts he is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .206. In six career appearances against the White Sox he is 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA.

The Indians did get some good news Monday on Carrasco Alex Goligoski Jersey , who left Saturday’s game against the Twins in the second inning after getting hit in the right elbow by a line drive. An MRI done on Carrasco’s elbow Monday showed no serious damage.

“Everything came back negative. We dodged a huge bullet,” Francona said. “They are treating it as a contusion. Once we get the swelling down the hope is he’ll come back quick. It’s just a bruise.”

The Indians on Monday also activated first baseman Yonder Alonso off the Family Medical Emergency List, and they optioned outfielder Greg Allen to Triple-A Columbus.

With left-handed relievers Andrew Miller and Tyler Olson on the disabled list, the Indians signed Rzepczynski to a minor league contract and assigned him to Columbus. Rzepczynski, who pitched for the Indians from 2013-15, was designated for assignment by Seattle on June 1.

“He’s a guy we know and like, and he enjoyed his time here,” Francona said. “He’ll start pitching (Tuesday). We’re down one left-hander in the pen now, so he’s a guy who could help.”

Quarterback Matt Ryan is in the playoffs for the sixth time in 10 seasons and still searching for the ultimate prize.


Last year’s meltdown in the Super Bowl has been well documented with the Atlanta Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead and losing to New England, but Ryan has his team back in the postseason despite a big drop-off in points and yards.

At 10-6, they’ve gone from the No. 2 seed to the sixth, but they’re the only NFC team to return to the playoffs. Ryan hasn’t enjoyed the kind of seamless production that made him the league MVP last season, yet he likes the team’s chances even though the offense has scored just two touchdowns over the last two weeks.

”We do a very good job throughout the week of getting ourselves prepared and ready to play Christian Dvorak Jersey ,” Ryan said Tuesday. ”That provides confidence, so I think guys just need to focus on doing the best that they can with where their feet are at that time of the day.

”If we do that and we’re locked in for practice and walkthroughs, that’s going to give us the best chance to be successful.”

Atlanta has won three of four and six of its last eight heading into Saturday’s wild-card game at the Los Angeles Rams (11-5). The defense is better than a year ago, moving into the top 10 in scoring and total yards for the first time at the end of the regular season the 1998 Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl.

But the offense has been unable to match last year’s productivity, dropping from first to 15th in scoring as opponents have held five-time Pro Bowl receiver Julio Jones to just three touchdowns. Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are still a tough tandem to defend, but both have missed time with concussions. The offensive line hasn’t been as stout despite another Pro Bowl season from center Alex Mack.

Regardless of what’s happening around him, Ryan said his best course of action during the week is to stay focused on the game plan. He doesn’t want to get caught up in discussions about his legacy and whether he has what it takes to win a Super Bowl.

”That’s not something I worry about or think about too much,” he said. ”I try to focus or worry or lend my brain space to trying to win games. I’m lucky to have a lot of good friends around this league. I certainly have a lot of respect for the guys I play against week in and week out and I imagine they feel the same way.”

Ryan has won 95 of 158 career starts in the regular season, but he’s 3-5 in the playoffs and 0-2 on the road. That kind of discrepancy is why he said he puts little stock in whether last season’s easy victory at the Los Angeles Coliseum could help the Falcons this week.

The Rams’ defense has flourished in a new scheme devised by 70-year-old coordinator Wade Phillips and it has found success with a trio of dual-threat linebackers in Alec Ogletree, the former Georgia star, Robert Quinn and Mark Barron.

Atlanta also must keep tabs throughout the game on defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who has 11 sacks.

”He’s one of the better players against the run at the position they play him at, but he’s also one of the better interior pass rushers in the league Jessie Bates III Color Rush Jersey ,” Ryan said. ”That creates some problems, but we’ll have a plan to account for where he’s at, and we certainly trust our guys up front to play well.”

Notes: WR Julio Jones was held out of practice with ankle and rib injuries. Jones was hit hard on the opening drive last week by Carolina safety Mike Adams, but he missed only a couple of snaps. He was limited in practice last week with ankle and thumb injuries. Jones has yet to miss a game despite being on the injury report this season with a hip flexor, back and knee injuries, too. … Freeman was held out of practice with a knee injury. … Listed as limited Tuesday were Mack (calf), receiver Taylor Gabriel (hamstring), tight end Levine Toilolo (knee) and defensive end Adrian Clayborn (calf). … LG Andy Levitre (triceps) was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Ben Garland will start in his place.

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