Salazar to undergo precautionary MRI on elbow

CLEVELAND — The high of the Indians’ success at the non-waiver Trade Deadline wore off in the third inning on Monday night. Manager Terry Francona walked to the mound, took the ball from Danny Salazar’s hand and the pitcher left the shortest start of his career with a head spinning with worry.

“There’s something in my elbow,” Salazar said after the Tribe’s 12-5 loss to the Twins at Progressive Field. “I don’t know what it is. We don’t know. I think we’re going to find out tomorrow.”

Francona noted that Salazar, who has dealt with discomfort in his right elbow for at least a few weeks, is scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI exam on the joint on Tuesday morning. The hope is that the scan will not reveal any structural damage but rather provide some peace of mind for a pitcher who has looked tentative on the mound for some time now.

Salazar’s recent struggles continued against Minnesota, which scored six runs on six hits, including a trio of homers, in the right-hander’s two-plus innings. Salazar did not look right in his previous start, either. The issue was also concerning enough for Cleveland to hold the pitcher out of his first career All-Star Game, giving him some extra time off to rest his ailing arm.

With the American League Central-leading Indians trying to push for a place on the October stage, and the club so reliant on its talented starting rotation, Salazar knows he needs to try to get right as soon as possible.

“It’s bad for me and for the team,” Salazar said. “I think the sooner we [find out what it is], then the sooner …

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