Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Dealing with rib injury
Rotowire
Strasburg, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, is dealing with a stress reaction of the ribs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Strasburg experience renewed discomfort following his between-starts bullpen session last week and now we have an official diagnosis. Thoracic outlet syndrome is notoriously tough to make a full recovery from, and Strasburg could end up being a cautionary tale. He is without a timetable to return.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Going back on IL
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Strasburg (neck) won't make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Atlanta and will be placed on the 15-day injured list after experiencing renewed discomfort following his between-starts bullpen session, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
Strasburg will undergo an MRI later Monday as the Nationals look to determine the nature and extent of his setback, but his placement on the IL is most likely linked to his recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome, which kept him sidelined for the first two months of the campaign. After a productive three-start rehab assignment, Strasburg returned to make his season debut in Miami last Thursday, but he was lit up for seven runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. The 33-year-old showed diminished velocity in the outing and didn't feel any better in his subsequent side session, so he'll be shut down again as the Nationals look to get him back on track. Washington has yet to announce a replacement in the rotation for Strasburg.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Shelled in return
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Strasburg (0-1) took the loss Thursday in Miami, allowing seven runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out five in 4.2 innings.
It was his first major-league start in over a year and one Strasburg would probably like to forget. Five of the eight runs against him came with two outs, including the two-run homer by Jesus Sanchez that ended Strasburg's night in the fifth inning. Nevertheless, the four-time All-Star is back after missing significant time after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. It was just his eighth start since winning the 2019 World Series Most Valuable Player Award and re-signing with Washington on a seven-year, $245 million contract. Assuming he will take his normal turn in the rotation, Strasburg will likely pitch early next week against Atlanta.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Activated for season debut
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Strasburg (neck) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of his start against the Marlins on Thursday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander threw 83 pitches over six scoreless innings during his final rehab start Friday, and he's now back on the active roster for his 2022 debut Thursday in Miami. Strasburg has made only seven starts over the past two years while dealing with injuries, and he's likely to face at least some workload restrictions in his first outing of the season.
Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Making 2022 debut Thursday
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Strasburg (neck) will start Thursday's game in Miami, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com
Strasburg was considered a strong candidate to start Thursday's matchup since he threw a bullpen session Monday, and manager Dave Martinez officially confirmed Tuesday that the right-hander will make his season debut during Thursday's series finale against the Marlins. Strasburg also battled injuries in 2020 and 2021, and he made just seven starts during that time, posting a 5.74 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 26.2 innings.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Slated to throw bullpen Monday
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Strasburg (neck) will throw a bullpen session Monday, which would likely put him in line to start Thursday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Strasburg threw six scoreless innings during a rehab start at Triple-A Rochester on Friday and appears to be on track to rejoin the Nationals' rotation this week. Washington hasn't yet announced a starter for Thursday's matchup in Miami, but the right-hander will likely take the mound as long as he feels good following Monday's bullpen.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Excellent in rehab start
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Strasburg (neck) tossed six scoreless innings for Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
He gave up one hit and one walk while striking out four and throwing 83 pitches. He was also excellent in his prior rehab start, so it's fair to wonder if his next start might come in the big leagues.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Rehab moves to Triple-A
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Strasburg (neck) is making a rehab start for Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
He is coming off a stellar rehab outing at Single-A in which he struck out six over five no-hit innings. It's possible this could be Strasburg's final tuneup before joining the big-league rotation.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Dazzles in second rehab outing
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Strasburg (neck) struck out six and walked one over five no-hit innings in his second rehab start with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday.
After issuing four walks in 2.2 innings Tuesday in his first rehab start for Fredericksburg and his 2022 debut, Strasburg righted the ship in his return to the mound. He retired the first 14 batters he faced Sunday and recorded 10 of his 15 outs via strikeouts or groundouts while needing only 58 pitches to cover five innings. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, the Nationals plan to have Strasburg make at least one or two more minor-league rehab starts before bringing him back from the 10-day injured list, so he's unlikely to join the big club until the second week of June at the soonest.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Slated for second rehab start
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Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to make his second rehab start at Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.
Strasburg is expected to require at least three rehab starts prior to returning to major-league action, and the team is hopeful that he'll be able to throw 60-70 innings over 4-5 innings during his second outing Sunday. As long as he feels good afterward, the right-hander is expected to rejoin the Nationals to throw a bullpen next week before presumably heading out for another rehab start. If Strasburg remains on track in his recovery, he'll likely be in the mix to be activated at some point in early-to-mid June.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: At least three rehab starts ahead
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Strasburg (neck) is expected to need at least three rehab starts before rejoining the Nationals' rotation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The right-hander will make the first of those starts Tuesday at Single-A Fredericksburg, where he'll have a target workload of four innings and 60 pitches. Manager Dave Martinez indicated Sunday that the team wants Strasburg to comfortably be able to throw at least six innings and 90 pitches before being activated, and given his long layoff after thoracic outlet surgery last summer, it's possible he could need more than three rehab outings to prove to the organization he's ready. Strasburg threw only 26.2 big-league innings over the prior two seasons and still has four years and $140 million remaining on his current contract, so don't expect the Nationals to push him too hard in 2022.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Ready for rehab assignment
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Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Single-A Fredericksburg, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The Nationals are targeting around four innings and 60 pitches Tuesday for Strasburg, who is making his first appearance in affiliated ball since June 1 of last year. Due to his lengthy layoff following the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent last July, Washington will presumably want to see Strasburg build up his pitch count over at least two starts in the minors before activating him from the 10-day injured list. The Nationals' decision not to move Strasburg onto the 60-day IL at any point would seem to imply that the team has hopes of him potentially joining the big-league rotation at some point during the first week of June.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Tosses three simulated innings
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Strasburg (neck) threw 43 pitches over three innings during a simulated game Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Strasburg threw two simulated innings late last week and continues to get closer to being cleared for a rehab assignment. The right-hander is expected to toss 60 pitches over four innings during his next throwing session, and that could occur with a minor-league affiliate. The Nationals will likely be cautious before activating Strasburg given his injury history, but he's made encouraging progress recently.
Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Throws two simulated innings
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Strasburg (neck) threw two innings in a simulated game at extended spring training Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Strasburg has been out all year as he makes his way back from thoracic outlet surgery. It's a big step to see him throwing in a simulated game, but he still has several weeks to go before being activated from the injured list. He'll have to go through a full spring build-up process as he gradually increases his pitch count.
Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Another sim game on tap
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to throw another simulated game at extended spring training this weekend, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Strasburg felt good coming out of his two-inning simulated game Tuesday, so he'll face hitters for the second time this week and presumably increase his pitch count. The Nationals will reassess Strasburg after the simulated game before potentially mapping out a minor-league rehab assignment for the right-hander. Washington has thus far resisted moving Strasburg to the 60-day injured list, which signals that the team is leaving the door open for him to make his season debut for the big club before June 7.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Ready to pitch two innings
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Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to pitch a two-inning simulated game this week at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he wants Strasburg to build up his pitch count a bit more before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, so the 33-year-old seems likely to remain in Florida for at least another week. The Nationals have been bringing Strasburg along slowly as he works his way back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which cut short his 2021 season. Since he'll presumably require multiple rehab starts before returning from the 10-day injured list, Strasburg appears unlikely to make his 2022 Nationals debut until June.
