Filed under: Nationals, MLB Injuries

The Nationals continue to handle Stephen Strasburg with extreme care, saying Wednesday that their star pitcher will be shut down from throwing for a few days as they wait to see how his shoulder responds.

Strasburg was scratched from his scheduled Tuesday night start against the Braves when he had trouble getting loose while warming up in the bullpen. X-rays and an MRI exam showed nothing besides shoulder inflammation, which is present in pretty much every pitcher, but the Nats have no incentive to push Strasburg at this point.

Manager Jim Riggleman left open the possibility that Strasburg might take his next turn Sunday against the Phillies, but it seems highly unlikely that would happen given how meticulous starters are about their routines. As Mark Zuckerman notes, Strasburg would likely have to throw a bullpen session in the next day or two to be ready to start Sunday, and it would seem today’s directive precludes that.

MASN’s Ben Goessling reports Jason Marquis could come off the disabled list and start Sunday in Strasburg’s place. Marquis is set to make a rehab start Wednesday night for Triple-A Syracuse.

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