MLB Game Preview - Miami at Cleveland

Wed Apr 24, 2019 1:10 PM EDT

The Cleveland Indians will turn to a familiar face in their bid for a fifth starter for the rotation.

Right-hander Jefry Rodriguez (0-1, 3.18 ERA) was summoned from Triple-A Columbus to start Wednesday afternoon's finale of a two-game interleague series against the Miami Marlins.

With right-hander Mike Clevinger sidelined by a strained back, Rodriguez stepped in admirably the last time the Indians were in need of a fifth starter. The 6-foot-6 Rodriguez allowed two runs on five hits and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings of a 3-0 setback at Kansas City on April 13.

"I mean, he threw strikes," manager Terry Francona said of Rodriguez, whose role could expand after starter Carlos Carrasco exited Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Miami with left knee discomfort.

"You know, I think the concern was he had been spotty even in his Triple-A starts. There was one good one, OK? But he really wasn't afraid to attack the strike zone. I thought he did a really good job."

Rodriguez, who has yielded eight runs on 10 hits in 10 1/3 innings in a pair of starts with the Triple-A Clippers, made all three of his career appearances versus Miami in 2018. The 25-year-old permitted seven runs on as many hits -- including two homers -- in seven innings without recording a decision.

Cleveland could use more from its offense, as Tyler Naquin's RBI single in the seventh inning accounted for one of the team's three hits on Tuesday.

"We talked about it before the game, we talked about it during the game," veteran Jason Kipnis said. "We had a good approach, but you tip the cap (to Miami)."

Carlos Gonzalez scored on Naquin's single and has hit safely in each of his first six games with the Indians.

"He's been very good," Francona said of Gonzalez. "You can tell he knows his way around the field. He's got a little presence to him too, actually a lot of presence to him -- he's going to be really good for us."

Marlins rookie right-hander Sandy Alcantara (1-2, 5.09) will look to rebound from a pair of rough starts on Wednesday. The 23-year-old followed up a six-run, 11-hit performance in five innings of a 9-1 loss to Philadelphia on April 12 by surrendering five and seven, respectively, over six frames five days later in a 6-0 setback to the Chicago Cubs.

Alcantara has yet to face Cleveland as a team, although Carlos Santana is 1-for-2 against him.

Jorge Alfaro belted his team-leading fourth homer to lead off the fifth inning for Miami, which has won three of its last four games on the heels of losing 13 of 15.

"We're trying to compete," the 25-year-old Alfaro told the Miami Herald. "We're trying to go out and fight every game."

Brian Anderson has reached base safely in 11 consecutive games since he received an off day on April 10 against Cincinnati. He is 14-for-41 with five extra-base hits (three doubles, two home runs) and nine walks in that stretch.

--Field Level Media