Stephen Strasburg might be hurt yet again. The Washington Nationals’ ace is apparently experiencing forearm tightness, according to his manager Davey Johnson.
While some pitchers would merely shake off a tightness that hasn’t caused any real problems, teammates and fans alike are probably holding their breath considering the stud pitcher’s injury history.
The Nationals’ opening day starter this season came into 2013 getting a clean bill of health after spending most of the last two years having to carefully pour over every pitch thrown.
The young gun suffered an arm injury in 2010 that required Tommy John surgery and required him to miss most of the 2011 season. After his return last season, the team took a very cautious approach to his innings pitched and even shut him down just as the team was making its first playoff appearance in Washington.
Stephen Strasburg likely felt all that was behind him considering that the team said they were going to be treating him like any other pitcher this season.
At the moment, the team isn’t panicing, apparently just giving the pitcher some medication designed to help with the discomfort. For his part, the righty said that he thinks he will be able to make his next scheduled start like normal.
Johnson said that the pitcher looked uncomfortable on the mound at times. Apparently the hurler could be seen shaking his arm every so often.
While the Nationals star wasn’t hit all that hard, he did give up six hits and four walks over six innings. Despite posting a pretty decent ERA the pitcher fell to just 1-4.
Despite being limited on innings, the ace of a very good rotation managed to go 15-6 last year with a 3.16 earned run average. This year he has posted an identical ERA but hasn’t gotten the same kind of run support.
Do you think Stephen Strasburg is seriously injured?
