No timetable for Stephen Strasburg’s return after MRI shows flexor mass strain
An MRI showed that Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has a strained flexor mass in his pitching elbow, the team announced Thursday.
There is no timetable for Strasburg’s return, the Nationals said, but the injury is not considered season-ending. Strasburg, however, told reporters Saturday that he could not guarantee he’d be able to pitch in the playoffs.
Strasburg left Wednesday night’s start in the third inning after feeling a “pinch” in his elbow. Considering Strasburg was making his first start since returning from the disabled list and has already had Tommy John surgery, the injury was concerning. But manager Dusty Baker viewed the flexor mass strain diagnosis as the best possible outcome.
Strasburg, who signed a seven-year contract extension earlier this season, has a 3.60 ERA in 24 starts this season.
The Nationals hold a healthy 8 1/2-game lead over the Mets in the NL East but trail the Cubs for the best record in the National League.
