On Wednesday night, the NL East Division-leading Washington Nationals appeared to be getting even better for the stretch drive as they welcomed back ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg from a almost month-long stay on the Disabled List.
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The Washington Nationals got a mix of good and bad news on Stephen Strasburg Thursday.
While that assessment rules out Tommy John surgery, the injury is still notable, and there’s no immediate timeline for his return to action.
“It’s good to hear it wasn’t what everybody was speculating”, manager Dusty Baker said Thursday. He winced on the mound, then left early in his first start since August 17 after being on the disabled list because of soreness in his right elbow. In his first start off of it on Wednesday, the discomfort seems to have resurfaced and a diagnosis has been made this time, though it seems like certain diagnosis and treatment will have to wait for the swelling to go down.
“He didn’t stick around because he’s just both frustrated and upset”, Baker said. “It’s not a season-ending injury, but we still need to take time (so) that he’s nice and strong because of his past.”.
After being pulled prematurely from Wednesday’s start, Stephen Strasburg was immediately scheduled for an MRI.
Washington Nationals trainer Paul Lessard escorts starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg off the field during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, in Washington. Strasburg could be facing his second Tommy John surgery already and he’s only 27 years old. Other pitchers who have recently had some kind of injury to the flexor tendon or muscle include Aaron Nola, Wade Davis, and George Kontos. Ramirez, who turns 35 on September 22, hit.240 with five homers and 41 RBIs in 128 games with San Diego, starting 109 games at shortstop, three in right field and one at designated hitter. That previous MRI came in May, when Strasburg signed his seven-year, $175 million contract extension with the club. But they do not know who exactly will fill it, nor whether they will have to fill it at all.
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“We have young guys here that I know they can throw”, catcher Jose Lobaton said. Do we move forward as if it’s possible we won’t have Stephen, or do we not count Stephen out?
