Stephen Strasburg will apparently be fine. Washington's 26-year-old right-hander spoke to reporters on Saturday, after he threw a bullpen session at Nationals Park without any issues. And that problem below his "shoulder blade" was apparently an issue with his back which was caused by the Nationals' starter altering his mechanics to compensate for that ankle issue he experienced during Spring Training. Strasburg discovered the problem while watching video with pitching coach Steve McCatty. He was favoring his ankle and it led to a back issue.
"'We were looking at a lot of video and he started to notice that,'" Strasburg told reporters including Chase Hughes from NatsInsider.com. "'I was landing a little bit more too much from where I need to be. He kind of diagnosed that.'"
Strasburg explained what happened:
"'It’s what caused my back tightness. It was never a shoulder issue. What caused my back tightness was I think an extension of a change in mechanics from my ankle. I just started throwing across my body a little more than I have done in the past.'"
Asked about his level of concern over Strasburg, Nats' GM Mike Rizzo told reporters on Sunday that he wasn't ever really alarmed:
"'Stephen knows his body very well and when he told me after he came out that it was nothing serious, I was pretty good with it. Then when he saw the doctors, it wasn’t much fear that it was something worse. We felt good about it.'"
Matt Williams told reporters after Sunday afternoon's win over the Braves that Strasburg will be ready to go on Tuesday night instead of Monday.
"Stephen, he'll go on Tuesday," the Nats' skipper said. "So Max [Scherzer] will go tomorrow, Stephen will go on Tuesday, followed by Gio [Gonzalez]."
Crisis averted? Or should we wait until Strasburg's through his next outing? While you wait for the start of tonight's game, links and lots of them...
NATS BEAT: Strasburg stories; Rizzo talks to reporters, Nationals beat Braves
STRASBURG:
• "Strasburg said Saturday he subconsciously altered his mechanics to compensate for the twisted ankle he suffered in spring training, and those adjustments caused new strain on his back." - "Nationals injury report: Stephen Strasburg to start Tuesday, Yunel Escobar leaves game, Casey Janssen pitches in Potomac" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post
Strasburg will start Tuesday. Scherzer tomorrow.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) May 10, 2015
• "Strasburg threw a bullpen session on Saturday and played catch on flat ground on Sunday. He was removed from his previous outing on May 5 against the Marlins after feeling discomfort in his back." - "Strasburg cleared to start Tuesday in Arizona" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
RIZZO TALKS:
• "The hidden ceiling that I have in my mind, I’ve never made public. He’s going to be a good player we feel for a very long time." - "Rizzo on Harper’s surge, Giolito’s debut and more Nats topics" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
Rizzo was asked if he has adjusted Harper's ceiling after the last week: 'The hidden ceiling that I have in my mind, I've never made public'
— Chase Hughes (@chasehughesCSN) May 10, 2015
• "Rizzo does admit to recognizing a difference from Harper at the plate that's helped in his recent assault on opposing pitchers." - "Nationals Pastime: Mike Rizzo's 'hidden ceiling' for Bryce Harper remains private" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
NATS' CATCHERS:
• "When Wilson Ramos plays, he hits. That the Washington Nationals’ 27-year-old catcher had the ability to produce consistently at the plate was never a doubt." - "Nationals’ Wilson Ramos makes his presence felt in win over Braves" - Chelsea janes, The Washington Post
These guys. Let's.Go.#Nats. pic.twitter.com/mIegal2U8K
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 10, 2015
• "When your teammate hits five home runs in three days including a walk-off shot the night before, it’s easy for accomplishments to go overlooked." - "Ramos shines on special Mother’s Day in Nats’ comeback win" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• "Ramos has quietly put together a superb season, and he came through in a huge situation Sunday afternoon." - "Wilson Ramos' double gives the Nationals a series sweep of Braves" - Tom Schad, Washington Times
Today's #MothersDay late-inning hero: your #Nats catcher @WRamosC3! pic.twitter.com/KAD6Jg9KOt
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 10, 2015
• "Lobaton, known for his defense and for working well with the Nationals’ pitching staff, has been hitting when he gets the chance, too." - "Jose Lobaton taking advantage of opportunities" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post
NATS BEAT BRAVES:
• "Sammy Solis pitched a scoreless eighth inning of relief for his first Major League win, and Drew Storen worked the ninth for his ninth save." - "Ramos caps Nats' rally to edge Braves" - Bill Ladson and Benjamin Standig, nationals.com
Harper, on that fly ball he lost in the sun in the seventh: "That was brutal. 1-0 sun monster."
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) May 10, 2015
• "Bryce Harper has hit 10-for-16 with six homers and 13 RBIs in his last four games. In his career against the D-Backs, Harper is 13-for-40 (.325) with five RBIs." - "Washington Nationals at Arizona Diamondbacks - May 11, 2015" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com Preview
• "Solis didn't know he had the victory until the game was over. Solis is loving the role as a reliever. In three games, Solis has pitched six shutout innings." - "Solis savoring role in Nationals' bullpen" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
Nats spokesperson said Rendon wasn't available for questions after the game. Has yet to discuss oblique injury that shut him down last week.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) May 10, 2015
• "Veterans Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos delivered clutch RBIs in the bottom of the eighth to help the Nationals to their eighth come-from-behind win of ..." - "Nationals Pastime: Resilient Nats fight back again in 5-4 win" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
• "Bryce Harper did not homer, which is news on its own these days. He fell just short of clearing the fence on an RBI double in the first." - "Nats 5, Braves 4: More late heroics after a lost lead" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
The line on Jordan Zimmermann: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K -- 107 pitches, 65 strikes. #JZimm pic.twitter.com/UgSxhtPIhx
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 10, 2015
• "Manager Matt Williams said Zimmermann just could not get into his normal rhythm for most of the start." - "Zimmermann fought fastball command, but still found way to eat innings in comeback win" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
NATSTOWN:
• "Demonstration video below. The HarpCake runs $6.50 at the Fluffy Thoughts stand behind section 135, while supplies last. And by the way, the cupcakes are outstanding." - "Fans at Nationals Park can now douse their own 'HarpCake' with chocolate syrup" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!
George Washington wins only his 2nd presidents race of the year, but it's still 2 better than Jefferson. http://t.co/GpklG6fKd0
— Let Teddy Win! (@LetTeddyWin) May 10, 2015
• "The Washington Post reported that several politicians are selling tickets to Taylor Swift’s upcoming show at Nationals Stadium in July." - "Taylor Swift’s Washington Concert Is Becoming a Political Fundraiser" - Devan Coggan, TIME
Taylor Swift's Washington concert is becoming a political fundraiser http://t.co/hLEqvePdiU
— TIME.com (@TIME) May 10, 2015
• "The Washington Nationals had the No. 16 pick, and for a millisecond, Sims believed that was his team." - "The Lucas Sims story: Fastballs and learning curves" - Chip Alexander, News & Observer News & Observer
NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "The Schadenfreude that accompanied Harper’s injury troubles – and continues to lurk as he proves himself one of the game’s best players – never made a whole lot of sense." - "10 Degrees: The reckoning of Bryce Harper is upon us" - Jeff Passan, Yahoo Sports
Column: The reckoning of Bryce Harper is upon us. http://t.co/9OGfCoG8VQ
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 11, 2015
• "Wood pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed only one runner to reach second base after giving up three runs in the first inning." - "Nationals 5, Braves 4" - David O'Brien, www.ajc.com
• "Bryce Harper, Torii Hunter and a triple-play duo were among the top players on a busy 16-game day." - "Saturday's MLB power rankings" - David Kull, SweetSpot - ESPN
• "And in the 31st game, the Braves finally used a lineup they had used before." - "Braves break streak, finally use duplicate lineup" - David O'Brien, www.ajc.com
NATS MINORS:
• "Taylor Jordan: Former Merritt Island High pitcher, who has a career 1-6 mark with the Washington Nationals, is 1-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.79 at Triple-A Syracuse." - "Tracking Brevard’s elite sports stars" - Florida Today
• Hagerstown 2, Greenville - Jose Marmolejos-Diaz - 2 for 4, 1 2B, R - Hagerstown Suns Box
Ladies and gentlemen, @CaseyJanssen! @PNats42 @Nationals pic.twitter.com/fWLo8W6Uut
— Julie Huebsch (@jahuebsch) May 10, 2015
• "Spann, making his fifth start of the season for the P-Nats, pitched beautifully, going six innings of scoreless baseball, on four hits." - "Potomac Nationals vs. Frederick Keys Game Recap" - Potomac Nationals News
• Altoona 7, Harrisburg 4 - Kevin Keyes - 3 for 4, 2 2B - Harrisburg Senators Box
• "Chiefs starter A.J. Cole started out slow, allowing three runs in the first two innings before settling in." - "Ian Stewart, A.J Cole and the Syracuse Chiefs lose, 5-1, to the Durham Bulls on Sunday Afternoon" - Syracuse Chiefs News
NL EAST UPDATES: Billingsphilly; Collins shakes up Mets; Marlins' loss
• Phillies: "The numbers may have looked similar, but to Chad Billingsley, yesterday's 7-4 loss to the Mets felt like progress." - "Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Chad Billingsley sees progress in loss" - David Murphy, Philadelphia Daily News
See if the ball’s OK, I’m fine. pic.twitter.com/wyYnma9g1m
— Phillies (@Phillies) May 10, 2015
• Mets: ""Desperate for offense, Terry Collins changed up his lineup Sunday and the Mets responded with a season-high 14 hits in a 7-4 win over the Phillies." - "Mets Insider: Collins changes up the lineup to good results" - Kristie Ackert, NY Daily News
RECAP: Mat Latos tosses 7 solid frames as #Marlins fall to Giants. http://t.co/76LFmgLTKc pic.twitter.com/DEIFjvPdn3
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) May 11, 2015
• Marlins: "Yet another comeback victory for the San Francisco Giants, and yet another late loss by the Miami Marlins." - "San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins headed in different directions" - Christina Kahrl, SweetSpot - ESPN
On this day 34 years ago in 1981, Memphis' own Charlie Lea threw a no-hitter for the @Montreal_Expos. pic.twitter.com/HzjntxEgYK
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 10, 2015