BALTIMORE — Stephen Strasburg’s weary right elbow was stiff and in dire need of some rest, so the Washington Nationals put their winningest pitcher on the 15-day disabled list Monday.
BALTIMORE — Stephen Strasburg’s weary right elbow was stiff and in dire need of some rest, so the Washington Nationals put their winningest pitcher on the 15-day disabled list Monday.
The right-hander was willing to pitch through the pain for the NL East-leading Nationals, but manager Dusty Baker had other plans.
“I told him we hadn’t won anything yet and that we had to look at the big picture,” Baker said. “Hopefully he’ll be good in September and hopefully in October.”
Baker expected Strasburg (15-3, 3.59 ERA) to spend the minimum amount of time on the DL.
“He knows how bad we need him to pitch,” the manager said. “I had to explain to him that it’s not hero time.”