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So... after manager Davey Johnson expressed some concerns about what he referred to as "tightness" in Washington Nationals' right-hander Stephen Strasburg's right forearm following last night's start in Atlanta and after Strasburg himself dismissed those concerns and stated that it was nothing that would keep him from making his next scheduled start, D.C. GM Mike Rizzo talked to the Washington Post this morning to inform reporters Thomas Boswell and Adam Kilgore that the pitcher had seen doctors and received positive reports on his arm.
In Rizzo's words, as quoted by the WaPost reporters, Strasburg's arm was deemed, "structurally perfect,"; he won't miss a start; and has "no problem" with what was now being described as "irritation" in his forearm, as opposed to "tightness," which was, "... possibly related to overuse of a muscle-stimulation machine," that was used before the right-hander threw 93 pitches, 53 of them strikes over 6.0 IP against the Braves in which he gave up six hits, two runs, two earned runs and four walks, eight of them Ks.
Before tonight's game Davey Johnson reiterated what the Nats' General Manager said:
Davey says the doctors feel Strasburg's discomfort may have stemmed from using an electric impulse machine pregame that irritated a nerve.
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) April 30, 2013
Davey repeats what Rizzo said earlier today: Strasburg forearm issue was result of pregame electric stimulation procedure...
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) April 30, 2013
Davey says it was electrical stimulation on Strasburg's arm prior to his start that might have irritated a nerve. Will be monitored closely
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) April 30, 2013
Davey Johnson also said he wouldn't commit either way about Strasburg's next start until after he throws tomorrow. The next outing would be Saturday in PNC Park.
The Nationals' skipper also talked about why Jayson Werth wasn't in the lineup. Werth fouled a ball of his ankle last night after he was already dealing with a hamstring issue. So Bryce Harper is in right field tonight with Tyler Moore getting a game in left field. Chad Tracy's at third base and batting seventh with Wilson Ramos back behind the plate a day after he was reinstated following a DL stint for his own hamstring injury.
Here's the lineup that will take on Tim Hudson and the Braves tonight in Turner Field:
Davey's Lineup, Tue at ATL/G27: Span cf , Espinosa 2b, Harper rf, LaRoche 1b, Desmond ss, Moore lf, Tracy 3b, Ramos c, Gonzalez lhp.
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) April 30, 2013
Game time 7:10 pm EST. The Nationals try to beat the Braves for the first time this season and the first time in eight games going back to a three-game sweep in the final series of the season in Turner Field last September and a series-salvaging win in the third game of three in 2012's last series between the teams in D.C.