Stephen Strasburg departed the mound with a left calf strain midway through the third inning of Sunday’s spring training game — the pitcher’s second start of the spring. But the Nationals hurler appears to have avoided any major issue.
Strasburg felt as if his calf “grabbed me a little bit” when he landed on his plant leg with one out in the third inning against the Houston Astros. A gathering at the mound with catcher Yan Gomes, the infield, manager Dave Martinez and head trainer Paul Lessard resolved quickly.
The right-hander walked off the mound after 45 pitches, short of the target 50 to 60 pitches Washington hoped to reach. But the bigger relief is Strasburg doesn’t think the calf strain will be much of a setback.
“Everything was feeling good, and then the calf grabbed me a little bit,” Strasburg said. “Luckily, the reports and stuff from the doctors, nothing major. So it was just kind of more of a precautionary thing and just kind of take it day-to-day and see how it feels tomorrow.”
Strasburg said he underwent an ultrasound on the calf, which was “pretty straightforward.” He’ll undergo treatment for the injury and Strasburg figures he’ll pitch a bullpen session in the coming days, depending on how his calf feels Monday.
The 32-year-old said he didn’t feel his calf at all until his final pitch, when he seemed to land awkwardly. He’s had calf cramps in the past and pitched through them, he said, although this time felt different than previous cramps.
Still, Strasburg said he could have pitched through this calf strain if “it was a bigger game.”
“It’s not something that’s going to require any sort of long-term recovery,” Strasburg said. “It’s definitely good news, so day-to-day.”
Strasburg pitched in just two games last season before undergoing carpal tunnel surgery. Last week, in his first spring training action, Strasburg featured for 1 2/3 innings, walking one while giving up no hits. He built off that outing Sunday, throwing 2 1/3 innings. He struck out four batters and allowed one hit and one walk.
Besides the calf strain — which Strasburg thinks is a minor holdup in his preparation — the pitcher feels good about where he’s at so far in spring training. His fastball and changeup both played well Sunday, and he’s working to improve his body control when runners are on base.
After an injury-derailed 2020, though, Strasburg hopes Sunday’s strain doesn’t amount into any larger issue.
“Yeah, I mean, we’re all on different journeys, I guess,” Strasburg said. “Just got to keep telling myself I’m going to keep grinding, keep working hard and roll with the punches.”
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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