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Washington Nationals Rewind: Davey Johnson Says Stephen Strasburg Has Right Forearm Tightness

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After Stephen Strasburg struggled to locate his fastball for most of the night in Atlanta in the Nats' 3-2 loss to the Braves, Washington Nationals' skipper Davey Johnson said the right-hander was being treated for "right forearm tightness" which the pitcher said wouldn't cause him to miss a start.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

So after a night which saw him struggle with his fastball command and battle himself on the mound for most of five of the six innings he pitched in Atlanta's Turner Field, Davey Johnson told reporters that Washington Nationals' right-hander Stephen Strasburg was dealing with "tightness in his forearm." Here's how the beat writers on the scene reported the news from the Braves' home where the Nats' '09 no.1 overall pick threw 93 pitches, 53 of them strikes and allowed six hits, four walks and two runs while striking out four of the last five batters he faced and eight overall in a 3-2 loss in which he received no decision:

When the Nationals' starter's sixth start was over, leaving him with a (1-4) record, a 3.13 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 12 walks (2.89 BB/9) and 36 Ks (8.68 K/9) in 37.1 IP. He told reporters the issue Johnson told them about was nothing that was going to cause him to miss his next start:

• Here's video from Strasburg's start in Atlanta.

And here's the Washington Times' Amanda Comak's last tweet on the news:

Strasburg hardly looked like an injured pitcher in his last inning of work. He struck out the side in a 13-pitch inning getting Chris Johnson, Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton swinging, Upton on four pitches that came in at 96, 96, 97 and 97 mph. More info when it's available...

• Here's what Davey Johnson had to say via MASN's post game video:

Davey Johnson: "That was a tough one, but the main thing, I was a little concerned about Strasburg. He always has a tendency to shake his right arm -- and him being wild and whatever, I talked to [Steve McCatty], 'Have you talked to him? Because he doesn't look right to me?' And he's still throwing the ball real hard, but I told [McCatty] after he went out in the sixth, 'Get him out this inning and we'll get you out of there and get you a win.'"

"He always has a tendency to shake his right arm -- and him being wild and whatever, I talked to [Steve McCatty], 'Have you talked to him? Because he doesn't look right to me?" - Davey Johnson on Stephen Strasburg

"But I think, I was in there, he was in there with the doctor, he's got a little tightness, I think, in his forearm. So they're going to put him on some medication. But you'll get a report from the doctor, but... that was a bad thing in the game. Still throwing good, but his command was way off, so I knew something was off on him."

Q: Did he complain about anything?:

Davey Johnson: "No, he didn't complain about anything. Of course, he was irritable, but he can be irritable during a ballgame. But I was overly-concerned and probably any other time I might let him continue, but not with what I was seeing today."

Q: He looked uncomfortable, [was it affecting him]?:

Davey Johnson: "I'm sure it does. But hopefully it's nothing more than maybe a little tired arm or something."

Q: Is this the first time you've seen him doing it this year?:

Davey Johnson: "Yeah, I mean he's a lot of times shaking his elbow and stuff like that to stay loose, but this I was seeing more frequently and that coupled with the ball going everywhere, so I cut him real short..."

Q: When did you first notice it?:

"Q: When did you first notice it? Davey Johnson: "Almost from the get-go. He was doing more than usual. But they've checked him, hopefully he'll be alright." - Davey Johnson after Strasburg's start

Davey Johnson: "Almost from the get-go. He was doing more than usual. But they've checked him, hopefully he'll be alright."

Q: Is it too early to know whether the next start could be in question?:

Davey Johnson: "Yeah, it's too early. So, I'm sure he's going to be examined every way you can look at him."

Q: Does concern for Strasburg override everything right now?:

Davey Johnson: "That overrides everything, hopefully he's going to be alright, but we'll just have to wait and see."

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