Only two starts have passed since Stephen Strasburg missed 2 weeks with shoulder inflammation. In Saturday's game, Strasburg was throwing a 2-1 pitch to the Phillies rookie outfielder Dominic Brown. He followed through, and clutched his arm. One of the most horrifying sights a Nationals fan could possibly see.
Strasburg immediately went to the clubhouse; pitching coach Steve McCatty slammed the door the bullpen phone in frustration. The Nationals bullpen of Stammen, Slaten, Clippard, and Batista effectively shut down the potent Phillies offense with Ryan Howard back at 1st base. Before being pulled after 4 1/3 innings, Strasburg had struck out 6 batters, giving up only 1 run on 2 hits, and throwing just 56 pitches.
After the game, Mark Zuckerman of NatsInsider.com reported that Strasburg strained his flexor tendon in his right (throwing) forearm with an MRI coming tomorrow.
As much as no one wants to admit it, replacing Strasburg will be pretty easy to end the season. Yesterday, RHP Jordan Zimmermann threw 5 innings of great baseball in Syracuse, likely ending his rehab. Many thought that Zimmermann would be replacing Jason Marquis, who had been struggling, but Marquis had a passable outing on Friday night (once it becomes more than an anomaly, I'll call the outings good), and has probably earned at least one more start considering he's being paid $7.5 million to be a starter, not hang out in the minors/bullpen.
I'll try to post more tomorrow after Strasburg's MRI in DC...
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