Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Sunday that Strasburg (neck) is in "prep mode" for the start of the regular season, "not rehab mode," Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
At the same time, Rizzo acknowledged that the Nationals won't fully know where Strasburg stands in his recovery from the season-ending thoracic outlet surgery he underwent last July until the coaching and training staffs get a chance to evaluate him during his upcoming spring throwing sessions, per Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post. With that in mind, Washington may look to build Strasburg up slowly this spring compared to the team's other rotation candidates, though at this stage, the 33-year-old looks as though he has a shot at being ready for Opening Day. Strasburg has made just seven starts across the past two seasons, as his 2020 campaign was shortened not only by the COVID-19 pandemic but also due to a nerve issue in his throwing hand that required surgery.