CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals will conclude their brief two-game series on Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field. Both teams are struggling of late.Even with their dramatic 7-6 victory thanks to a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning in the first game of the series Tuesday, the Indians are just 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Nationals, meanwhile, have lost six of their last eight.Both teams have had slumping bullpens of late, and Washingtons bullpen turned a potential victory into a loss Tuesday as closer Jonathan Papelbon turned a 6-4 Nationals lead into a 7-6 Nationals loss.In his last two appearances, which have come in the Nationals last two games, both of them ninth inning losses, Papelbon has imploded. In those two games he has an 80.60 ERA, having allowed six earned runs, six hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning.Papelbon has been so shaky that manager Dusty Baker was asked following the loss on Tuesday about whether he was contemplating making a change in the closers role going forward.Its too soon to say after the game, Baker said. Thats his job. Thats what hes getting paid for. We just have to go back to the drawing board.Papelbon said the last two games havent shaken his confidence.A couple of bad outings. Chalk it up to that, he said. Ive had them before in my career. In this game only the strong survive. Youve got to keep going. Thats how it works.Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see who Baker summons from the bullpen Wednesday if the Nationals have the lead going into the ninth inning.Clevelands bullpen has also struggled over the last few weeks, to the point that the Indians and Nationals are both teams expected to be actively seeking relief help prior to Mondays trade deadline.The Indians would also like to get all-star outfielder Michael Brantley back in their lineup. Brantley hasnt played in a major league game since May 9, due to lingering issues from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. But Brantley is still out, and there is no timetable for his return.He wants desperately to play. So much so that hes almost apologizing for being out, manager Terry Francona said. But his shoulder hurts. Its not his fault.Wednesdays pitching matchup features two starters who are both having excellent years. The Nationals will start Stephen Strasburg, who is 13-1 with a 2.83 ERA this year. In two career starts vs. the Indians he is 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA.Strasburg is coming off his only loss of the season, a 6-3 loss to the Dodgers on July 21. In that game he gave up six runs and seven hits in six innings, although he did strikeout 10 and only walked one.Carlos Carrasco will start for the Indians. He will be making his 15th start of the season. He is 7-3 with a 2.31 ERA. In his last six starts, Carrasco is 5-1 with a 1.16 ERA and he has held opposing teams to a .149 batting average. Wednesday will be his first career appearance against Washington.Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. MLB Jerseys .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. https://www.cheapmlbjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Adidas NHL Jerseys 2020 . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Nike Baseball Jerseys . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation.After winning an elusive premiership in his 14th AFL season, Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Boyd happily admits hes now on bonus time.Boyd, 34, will be one of several veterans anchoring the Bulldogs backline next year alongside captain Bob Murphy and Dale Morris but says hes got no shortage of mootivation to win another flag.ddddddddddddWe certainly have that mindset that were never satisfied ... we want to go again, we want to do it better, Boyd said on Monday. ' ' '