The Washington Nationals have placed pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness. It is uncertain when he will return to the rotation.
Continue for updates.
Baker Comments on Strasburg’s Injury
Monday, Aug. 22
Nationals manager Dusty Baker told reporters Strasburg first mentioned his injury Saturday, saying he wanted to pitch through it. “But it’s not hero time yet,” Baker added.
Strasburg Placed on DL
Monday, Aug. 22
The Nationals announced the roster move, noting A.J. Cole was called up in his place. Joel Sherman of the New York Post, citing a source, reported the injury “is not structural” and that the Nationals were being “proactive” to get Strasburg healthy for the stretch run and into the postseason.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today added the Nationals are “cautiously optimistic” Strasburg can return in two weeks.
Strasburg Has Dealt with Arm Issues Throughout Career
Physical setbacks have always been a concern during Strasburg’s career, and his latest injury is no different.
The Nationals starter suffered an upper-back strain earlier in the season, was limited to 23 starts in 2015 and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010. Washington also shut him down in early September during the 2012 season when it was firmly in the postseason race. The Nationals still won the National League East that year, but they didn’t have Strasburg for the stretch run.
When healthy, he is one of the most effective pitchers in the National League.
He made the All-Star Game in 2012, finishing with a 3.16 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 159.1 innings before being shut down. He also struck out 242 batters in 2014 and tallied 155-plus strikeouts in four straight years entering the 2016 campaign. Strasburg has yet to post a WHIP higher than 1.155 for an entire season in his career.
Thus far, he is 15-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 2016.
The Nationals will rely on Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez if Strasburg misses time. Scherzer won the 2013 American League Cy Young Award, and Gonzalez has finished with an ERA below 3.80 in each of the last four years for Washington.
The Nationals also have depth with Tanner Roark, and Yusmeiro Petit has starting experience and made an emergency start for Strasburg earlier this season.
While Washington has enough pieces in its starting rotation to survive this setback, it is a more dangerous contender when Strasburg is healthy.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com