10:56 am: Strasburg felt shoulder discomfort after a recent bullpen session, manager Dave Martinez tells reporters (including Dan Kolko of MASNsports.com). A subsequent MRI revealed the inflammation. The Nationals hope his absence won’t be particularly long, although there’s no current defined timetable for his return.
9:44 am: The Nationals announced they’ve placed right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 15, with right shoulder inflammation. Righty Paolo Espino was selected from the alternate training site to start this afternoon’s game in Strasburg’s stead. Additionally, Washington placed reliever Wander Suero on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain and recalled righty Ryne Harper.
Washington did not give a timetable for Strasburg’s return. Today’s IL placement is the latest injury setback for the star right-hander, who was limited to just two starts during the shortened 2020 season by carpal tunnel syndrome. The 32-year-old was also hampered by a leg injury during Spring Training, but it didn’t prevent him from beginning this season on the active roster. Unfortunately, he’ll now deal with a shoulder issue after a pair of regular season starts.
Espino, 34, made a pair of appearances for the Nats last season. That was his first big league time since 2017, the only other year in which he’s appeared in the majors. While Espino was outrighted off the 40-man roster last fall, he returned to the organization on a minor-league deal. He’ll make a spot start today against the Diamondbacks.
Suero left yesterday’s appearance after facing just one batter and was reported to be headed for an MRI, so it’s no surprise he’s headed to the injured list. Harper will return to take Suero’s place in the bullpen for now.
shocker
Yeah, where are the people who vehemently argued that he didn’t have consistent health issues now? I still couldn’t believe that discussion on here lol
Dude you shouldn’t be talking about injury issues as a fan it’s lame. And it’s really lame to celebrate it.
that’s half of the articles on this site this time of year. if you dont want to hear about injures then you don’t have to be on the site.
Who’s celebrating anything? There’s constantly discussions about him regarding his health in various threads on this site and whether he can or cannot stay healthy
I am utterly astonished with this unforeseen event.
He’s gotta give up the slurve
Safe to assume this $245M contract will not end well. Passing on Rendon for a frequently injured pitcher was puzzling at the time and is even more puzzling now.
It was’t that puzzling. Rendon has his own issues as an aging hitter, and didn’t necessarily want to re-sign with the Nats
His swing doesn’t have a lot of moving parts. He will age like wine. Picking Strasburg over Rendon was an awful decision. They still haven’t replaced the gaping hole he left in the lineup.
Rendon’s stated in the past that he’s not as passionate about the game anymore and he plays as a career moreso. If that’s the case I’m sure warmer weather, more money, and the liveliness of Orange County was way more appealing. Plus I doubt anyone was gonna match the AAV of that contract the angels threw out. It’s problematic to their payroll scheme that they keep overpaying even for great players
Look to the Nationals for the perfect example of a big pitching contract that really works out (Max Scherzer), and also a pitching contract that’s a mess (Stras).
The difference is Max was one of the most durable starters and had thrown over 200 innings a few year in a row. Stras had his first healthy season in 5 years and doubled his inning from 18 to 19
I see that Strasburg is taking his annual summer sabbatical a bit early this year.
Should have given Rendon the $245 million.
Good for Paolo. 34 getting another shot in the mlb. Would be a pretty awesome story if he has a good year this year.
James Paxton knocked on Strasburg’s door saying, “Stephen, it’s time”
Well, that didn’t take long at all.
Hopefully Paolo can do OK, but the Nats should have better options for pressing a starting pitcher into service.
probably just the best option in short notice. real question, why haven’t they been using Voth in longer spells yet?
You know what this man needs? A new arm. He’s so terrific, but it’s hard to watch him go down with all of these nagging injuries.
How do you get inflammation when you barely ever play?
Love how he complained that a camera saw him rubbing his shoulder in the tunnel and he said he thinks that’s terrible and there should be a safe space got them. It made me laugh so hard. Man up you prissy cry baby.
Look at the comments on here. Bunch of people sitting on their couch talking about what they know and what he should do. It’s lame.
You didn’t get your Ph.D from Couch Potato University like most of the commenters here? =))
Record for number of pitchers on the IL will be shattered this year.
Death ….. Taxes …… Strasburg to the Injured List
Let’s not overreact- Straus has a career 3.00 FIP, sub 1.1 whip and strikes out well over a guy per inning, while Rendon’s on the 10 day with no clear timetable either. It’s tougher and arguably more important to find elite pitching compared to hitting, and elite pitchers have aged better than elite hitters in age 35+ season. Not to mention Castro can fill in at replacement level to give Carter Kieboom time to figure it out. Not necessarily bullish on the Nats, but two elite pitchers and a solid lefty means no one wants to play them in the postseason. It’s a tough division, so getting Straus back on the field healthy is priority #1. Don’t think the Nats would have the pitching depth and concurrently as strong of a chance of winning the WS w/ Rendon vs. Strausburg. So, if the goal is to win a WS, going with Straus was the right call IMO. Without the pitching depth, signing Rendon may have ultimately started the tank earlier, and the Nats would still have to find someone to eat his 38M annually in age 34-36 season. We’ll see how it plays out, dark horse in postseason if they can make it in.
it was always a matter of injures. if both were expected to be healthy then this was the right choice. the problem was there was no reason to believe this wouldnt happen to Stras.
They are most definitely gonna finish last in that division now. That was a given before, but a certainty now. Only good three starters have been terrible/injured and no talent in the infield outside of Turner. They’re toast. Also means the Mets should be a lock for 4th.
Every year I take a chance in this guy in my fantasy league and it seems I am always getting burned! But fantasy is just for fun… I personally hopes he gets better soon. Gotta suck for him.
In a league where I’m allowed two IL spots I drafted Bergman, Ke’Bryan, Andrelton and Strasburg. I may need to dump him already just to free up a spot so I can fill out a full lineup. Oh yeah, and Biggio’s taking up a spot as well.
Just take a cortisone shot and continue to march, Stephen.
Another paper doll bites the dust. Bring back the old days where drunk, fat guys pitched 30 complete games a year.
Baseball Brian — that makes alot of sense. Spend your payroll on drunk, fat guys who dont get hurt and dont help earn a World Series MVP. Because you need to be appeased.
It’s not exactly breaking news that 9 figure contracts involving pitchers in their 30’s rarely end well. Do you Einsteins seriously think Rizzo did not know this? So the Strasburg deal is what is. But leave it to the MLBTR comments section to act like it’s a big deal.
Most of the bedwetters in this section complaining about Strasburg’s health are the same ones who’ve been whining about his health for at least half a dozen years. If they ran the Nationals, they would’ve dealt the World Series MVP Strasburg years ago. Which means no World Series title for Washington.
And again, Rendon was NOT resigning here, so the “they’ve should’ve given that $$ to Rendon instead” argument aint no argument.
Strasburg always had issues when he first came into the league. This contract will haunt the Nationals for the next few seasons if Strasburg can’t stay healthy.
Weather gets warm, Strasburg gets hurt; as sure as the sun rising in the East.