CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians manager Terry Francona found a simple way to sum up his team’s tenuous state this October.And he channeled Yogi Berra to do it.“As long as we’re still breathing http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , we’re still breathing,” Francona said before Monday’s critical Game 3 against the Houston Astros. “We just don’t have a lot of margin for error.”With his club down 2-0 and batting only .100 (6 for 60) so far in the series and facing left-hander Dallas Keuchel in Game 3, Francona juggled his lineup by starting right-handed hitters Yandy Diaz at designated hitter and Brandon Guyer in right field. Also, Edwin Encarnacion was switched from DH and play first base, replacing left-handed Yonder Alonso.The Indians were dominated in Games 1 and 2 by Astros fireballers Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. Cleveland has had some success against Keuchel, beating him on May 19 in Houston. The Indians scored three runs in the first inning and chased Keuchel after in five innings.In his second matchup against Cleveland on May 25, he allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings.Astros manager A.J. Hinch made two switches, starting Brian McCann behind the plate and using Tony Kemp as his DH instead of Tyler White, who served that role in the first two games.Francona knows all about overcoming daunting odds in October.In 2004, his Boston Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS and eventually win their first World Series title since 1918. Last season http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , the Indians led the ALDS 2-0 before the Yankees stormed back to win the series.Francona said there’s no secret recipe to a comeback.“You can philosophize about it however you want,” he said. “There’s different ways of looking at it. We don’t want to go home yet, so in order for that to happen, we gotta win today. OK, that’s the best thing we can do is channel our energy into finding a way to win today.“And, from my point of view, some of that is eliminating the noise that comes with being down 0-2. That’s part of it. Everybody’s got a reason and this and that. You gotta try to eliminate that and know that, be confident enough in what you’re doing that, ‘Hey, this is what puts our team in the best position http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey ,’ and stay with it.” The Chicago Cubs‘ offense needed a boost. Adding one of the league’s best left-handed bats should certainly help the cause.The Cubs acquired infielder Daniel Murphy from Washington on Tuesday for a minor leaguer, plus another player or cash considerations.Murphy could make his Cubs debut on Wednesday night at Detroit. Chicago claimed Murphy off waivers, then worked out a deal with the Nationals.Article continues below ...“My biggest concern is him, how much he can endure,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I want to sit down with him in the office and go over this eyeball-to-eyeball. ‘I need to know what you need.’ That’s (what you do) when you get a veteran player this time of the year, even though he missed some of the season with an injury. You still want to know, what can you do (to help him)?”Murphy is batting .300 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 56 games this season. He has a career .413 average in 28 regular-season games at Wrigley Field. He also destroyed Cubs pitching in the 2015 National League playoffs, clubbing four homers for the New York Mets.“Everyone is excited to have him on our side,” Cubs utility man Ben Zobrist told the Chicago Tribune.Second baseman Javier Baez will likely slide over to play shortstop and some third base to open up playing time for Murphy.A pair of veteran left-handers will start the second and final game of the series. The Cubs scored a single run for the fifth consecutive game while losing on Tuesday, 2-1.Cubs ace Jon Lester (13-5 Dellin Betances Jersey , 3.72 ERA) bounced back from three poor outings to toss six scoreless innings against Pittsburgh on Thursday. He limited the Pittsburgh Pirates to five hits and didn’t issue a walk while striking out eight.In his previous three outings, Lester was rocked for a combined 17 earned runs, including six homers, in 13 2/3 innings.“He had this way about him today that was not going to be denied,” Maddon said during his postgame press conference. “That’s what I saw. He was locked in, he’d had enough, and he went back to pitching like Jon’s capable of pitching.”For Lester, it was just a matter of trusting his stuff and improving his location.“Still threw my fastball, still threw my cutter,” he said. “I think just better execution Matt Holliday Jersey , better angle on both pitches.”Surprisingly, the Tigers have given Lester more trouble than any other team. He’s 2-6 in 11 starts against them with a 6.05 ERA and 1.80 WHIP.Naturally, these Tigers are much different than the ones he faced in past seasons. They are in the early stages of rebuilding.Detroit starter Francisco Liriano (3-8, 4.72 ERA) will be seeking his first victory since April 28. Liriano has gone winless in his last 15 appearances and was charged with the loss in his last three starts.He lasted just 1 2/3 innings against Minnesota on Thursday, surrendering eight runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks. A combination of walks and homers have ruined Liriano’s season. He has issued 58 free passes and given up 16 long balls in 97 1/3 innings.The Tigers were hoping to flip Liriano for a prospect or two after signing him as a free agent but he’s been too ineffective to drum up any interest.