Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg stood by his locker late Friday night, wearing shorts, a grey T-shirt and flip flops.
He had his hands in his pockets and a downcast look on his face, as once again he was dealing with an early exit from one of his starts.
Strasburg pitched two innings in a 9-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants and after the game Washington manager Dave Martinez said the All-Star hurler had a little bit of inflammation in his right shoulder.
“His shoulder tightened up on him,” Martinez said.
Martinez has dealt with several injuries to position players this year. Strasburg is slated to get an MRI on Saturday, Martinez said.
Strasburg, who took the loss and fell to 6-6, gave up five hits and three runs. His velocity was in the upper 90s but he gave up a homer and two doubles.
“In the grand scheme of things I will be OK, but it is frustrating,” Strasburg said. “I think every pitcher … is not going to feel 100 percent every time.”
The No. 1 overall pick in 2009 said the shoulder has bothered him somewhat the last “three or four starts.”
“It is a gradual process,” he said. “You want to go out there and do your part. Davey decided to pull the plug” and take him out of the game.
What followed were six relievers for the Nationals who yielded six runs and 10 hits, including a homer allowed by rookie Wander Suero before a sellout crowd of 41,591 fans.
The Nationals (35-26) entered Friday tied for first in the National League East with Atlanta, who played on the west coast at the Dodgers.
Pitching eight years to the day of his major league debut, Strasburg was taken out after throwing just 35 pitches. The San Diego native, who has admitted he doesn’t like humidity, appeared uncomfortable after several pitchers in his shortest start since July 23, 2017 with a game-time temperature of 84 degrees.
“He has been sore but not terribly sore,” Martinez said. “I didn’t want to take a chance. He wanted to go out and pitch (the third inning) but I said no. I want to get results of the MRI (on Saturday). Hopefully it is nothing at all.”
Rookie Juan Soto hit his third homer of the season.
“He has been real good,” Martinez said. “I love watching him play.”
Saturday is also a big day for other reasons as the Washington Capitals will be honored before the 12:05 p.m. game at Nationals Park.
MVP and Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin will throw out the first pitch.
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