Washington Nationals News: Stephen Strasburg lands on DL with elbow soreness
By Pablo Roa
After three rough starts, the Washington Nationals placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness.
Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg is in the midst of his worst slump of the season. Now, he’s headed to the disabled list for the second time in 2016.
The team announced earlier today that Strasburg was going on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness. In a corresponding move, the Nationals called up right-hander A.J. Cole, who will start in Strasburg’s place tonight against the Orioles.
#Nats recall RHP A.J. Cole from AAA & place RHP Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day DL with right elbow soreness. Cole will start Mon at BAL.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 22, 2016
It’s not the first time Strasburg has been slowed by an injury this season. The right-hander spent 17 days on the disabled list in June with upper back stiffness.
This injury, however, is more worrisome because it’s in his pitching elbow — the elbow where he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010. Fortunately for Strasburg and the Nationals, however, it looks like this stint on the disabled list is just precautionary.
According to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, Strasburg has a “touch of inflamation” in his right elbow but no structural problems. Sherman, citing a source, says the Nationals are being proactive by putting Strasburg on the disabled list in an effort to “get him right” for the postseason.
Recently, of course, Strasburg has been anything but “right.”
After being arguably the best pitcher in baseball for most of the season, Strasburg has struggled mightily over his last few starts. The right-hander allowed a career-high nine runs in just 1 1/3 innings his last time out. He had allowed 10 runs in 10 innings in his previous two starts.
If the time off can help get him back on track, then Strasburg’s injury might just be a blessing in disguise for the Nationals. After all, the team has a comfortable lead in the NL East and can survive a couple of weeks without their star right-hander.
Of course, if Strasburg’s injury is more serious and he’s on the disabled list for an extended period, it could be a crippling blow for the Nationals — a team with World Series aspirations. Hopefully for Strasburg and the Nationals, he’ll be back in action and back on his game sooner rather than later.
As for Strasburg, he doesn’t seem too concerned about the injury:
Strasburg says elbow issue not anything too serious, just lost some range of motion. Hopes this stretch will allow him to return good to go
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) August 22, 2016
Strasburg says as a Tommy John guy, he needs to treat his arm differently. Plans to work more on flexibility down the road.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) August 22, 2016
Bottom line, Strasburg is viewing this as a period to rest his arm. Plans to return to action down the stretch.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) August 22, 2016