SUNDAY: Strasburg and Kintzler (right forearm flexor strain) are now on the DL, the Nationals announced. To fill those two roster spots, the Nats recalled righties Wander Suero and Trevor Gott from Triple-A.
SATURDAY: The Nationals will place right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post was among those to report. There’s no timetable for Strasburg’s return, though manager Dave Martinez indicated that he doesn’t have any structural damage, per Dan Kolko of MASN.
The DL placement was expected for Strasburg after his shoulder forced him out of a start early on Friday, when he lasted only two innings against the Giants. Fortunately, though, it appears the Nationals have dodged a catastrophic injury in this case. Still, it’s yet another injury in a growing line for the 29-year-old Strasburg, who entered 2018 off three straight abbreviated seasons. As always, Strasburg has been terrific when healthy this season, making his forthcoming absence all the more difficult for a Washington team with a half-game lead over second-place Atlanta in the NL East.
Before he went on the shelf, Strasburg opened the season with a 3.46 ERA and 10.6 K/9 against 2.12 BB/9 over 80 2/3 innings. The Nationals likely won’t be able to replace that production, and they were already dealing with a hamstring injury to resurgent back-end starter Jeremy Hellickson. Now, the only sure bets in their rotation are superstar Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark. Triple-A hurlers Erick Fedde and Austin Voth are also on the Nationals’ 40-man roster and could be candidates for promotion. Veteran Tommy Milone is on hand at the minors’ highest level, too, but the Nats would need to add him to their 40-man before giving him a shot in the majors.
Elsewhere on Washington’s staff, righty reliever Brandon Kintzler will go for an MRI after leaving his outing Saturday with forearm tightness – which is often a sign of a serious injury for a pitcher. The Nats will hope that’s not the case after re-signing Kintzler to a two-year, $10MM guarantee in the offseason. The 33-year-old has begun 2018 with a 4.45 ERA, 6.67 K/9, 3.81 BB/9 and a 44.7 percent grounder rate (down from a lifetime 56.7) in 28 1/3 innings.
geez, with Eaton coming back and Murphy right around the corner it was looking like the actual starting lineup was going to come together. it’s always something.
I wouldn’t say Murphy was justaround the corner.
Latest report was that “Murphy wasn’t making great progress”…..and what they thought would be “around the corner”….is now up in the air……
I’m not sure if it wouldn’t be in a team’s best interest to find the 12 best pitchers, and go with “team’s ” of 3 or 4, letting each pitcher throw 2-3 innings each. Pitchers could now come in and hard, wouldn’t have to worry about pitch counts, innings pitched, etc. I’m sure some team has discussed it…
LaRussa tried this in 1994 with the As. He abandoned it quickly, but he also had lousy pitchers to work with.
I have to admit, I didn’t remember that. But, maybe with the 12 “best” pitchers, it could work.
It only lasted a few weeks- he had Welch and Darling and Moore and Gossage and those guys were just way past their usefulness.
Not stud pitcher is gonna wanna be pulled after two or three innings
It’s really sad how pitchers these days go down the way that they do, because they’re taught to throw with max effort every pitch instead of being taught how to pitch. The best pitchers pitch with control. There’s a difference between being a thrower and a pitcher. As long as these guys continue to be told to throw instead of pitching,injuries will continue to be high. That’s why last year’s WS was the way it was because of it. Poor starting pitching and taxed bullpens. It’s pitiful.
“As long as these guys continue to be told to throw instead of pitching, injuries will continue to be high. That’s why last year’s WS was the way it was because of it. Poor starting pitching and taxed bullpens.”
I’d argue that taxed bullpens and SP are more likely the result of a 162 game season, followed by three rounds of playoffs.
I don’t know whether there’s a connection between throwing hard, or being told to throw hard, and increased arm injuries. That’s the sort of thing one would have to demonstrate using um, facts and statistics of some sort.
Ha! It’s plain to see.
Yes, there were never pitching injuries in any other era except now.
Not as many as you see now. Wise guy
No; that’s just not true. Before TJS, guys just were forced to retire when their arms broke. The average career length for a starting pitcher in baseball (defined as 75% of appearances as starts) is 4.33 years in 2018. In 1933, guess how many years it was? 4 75.. Starting pitchers have always tended to have short careers. We don’t remember it because none of us was alive in 1933 but it’s always been a thing. Pitching is hard and pitchers break down. That’s been true throughout the history of baseball.
If Kintzler needs TJ surgery he should be recovered and ready for action just around the time his Nats contract expires.