Cleveland, OH (My Sportsbook) - The Cleveland Indians have placed pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right triceps. The club also claimed pitcher Nick Bierbrodt off waivers from Tampa Bay.

The move for Rodriguez is retroactive to June 9. He last pitched on Sunday, June 8 and worked a season-low 1 2/3 innings against Arizona. The righthander had been complaining about tightness in his arm.

Rodriguez said he thinks he hurt his arm swinging a bat in batting practice to prepare for Interleague play. He is just 3-7 with a 5.47 earned run average in 13 starts this season.

Bierbrodt was designated for assignment by the Devil Rays on June 8. The lefthander was 0-2 with a 9.68 ERA in 13 appearances, including five starts, in 2003.

The Indians expect to use Bierbrodt in relief.

The 25-year-old was a former first round pick of Arizona in 1996. He spent five years in the Diamondbacks' system before being dealt to Tampa Bay in 2001 for Albie Lopez.

Bierbrodt was shot in the right arm and chest in Charleston, South Carolina last June.

The Indians opened a spot on the 40-man roster for Bierbrodt by transferring pitcher Dave Elder from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Elder has been sidelined since mid-May with right rotator cuff tendinitis.