Sportsbook Chat
Register
Wagering: 1.888.238.8018 - 1.888.889.4313
Customer Service: 1.877.717.7747 - 1.888.889.4368
contact betphoenix: 1.888.238.8198 - 1.888.889.4312
contact betphoenix: 1.888.378.0888 - 1.888.889.4219

Sports News

Nats’ Phenom Strasburg Injured, Awaiting Mri Results
Nats’ Phenom Strasburg Injured, Awaiting Mri ResultsThe Washington Nationals are mired in another losing season, but they have much to be optimistic about in the future. The biggest positive development this summer has been the rapid success of starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg who has shown every indication of being a dominant force for years to come. He may not pitch again this season, however, after an arm injury has landed him on the disabled list. The team is awaiting results of medical tests and a second MRI, but at this stage in his career and with Washington so far out of the playoff hunt there’s no good reason to take chances with such a valuable talent.


At this point, the hope is that Strasburg is simply suffering from a strained tendon. He injured the arm throwing a change up in Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies and was immediately removed from the contest. He underwent a MRI exam on Monday, the results of which have prompted the team to put him on the 15 day disabled list and schedule a second MRI. General Manager Mike Rizzo downplayed his concern but said the first test "showed some things on there that led us to set up another MRI" since they wanted "a full view of what's going on in there."

Rizzo said that the team would await the results of the second MRI before making a decision on whether or not to shut Strasburg down for the season. He added that Strasburg is anxious to find out what he’s dealing with:

"He's anxious to find out what's going on. He felt good today. His elbow felt good. ... To say he's little anxious, a little emotional would be fair to say."

To their credit, the Nationals have been careful with how they’ve used Strasburg this year. They’ve limited his innings and taken other steps to make sure that he’s not a ‘can’t miss’ phenom that ends up flaming out early like Kerry Wood or Mark Prior. Manager Jim Riggleman was more philosophic, saying that this sort of thing is par for the course with young pitchers:

" It's discouraging for Stephen. It just seems like pitchers get to a point where they're past all the issues, guys like Livan Hernandez and Miguel Batista. It just seems like it's the way it goes with these young pitchers."

Strasburg is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings this season. The start against Philadelphia was his third back from an earlier trip to the disabled list, caused by inflammation in his shoulder.

Bookmark  and  Share