MLB Player News

Nationals manager Davey Johnson confirmed what general manager Mike Rizzo said earlier Tuesday that Stephen Strasburg's forearm tightness was a result of his pregame stimulation procedure. However, unlike Rizzo -- who said Strasburg would make his next start Saturday at Pittsburgh -- Johnson said he wants to see Strasburg throw Wednesday before declaring him ready to pitch Saturday.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post Tuesday starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg will make his next start Saturday against the Pirates despite battling forearm tightness Monday against the Braves.

Rizzo said Strasburg's arm is "structurally perfect" and he merely felt "irritation in his forearm." Rizzo added Strasburg's irritation might have been caused by normal pregame use of electrical stimulation on the forearm.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson expressed concern about the status of starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg following Monday's start against the Braves. Strasburg, who took his first no-decision of the season, labored through forearm tightness.

"He always has a tendency to shake his right arm, and him being wild, he doesn't look right to me," Johnson said, per MLB.com. "He's still throwing the ball real hard, but I told him when I went out in the sixth, 'Get them out this inning, we'll get you out of there and we'll get you a win.' I think he was in there with the doctor, he's got a little tightness, I think, in his forearm. So they're going to put him on some medication. That was a bad thing in the game. He was throwing good but his command was way off, so I knew something was off on him."

Strasburg said afterward he was fine and seemed to downplay the arm issue.

"I smoked the umpire in the first AB. You don't want to go out there and do that," Strasburg said. "I was pulling the ball. I can't really say why I'm having a tough time right now in the first inning, but I am. I just have to keep grinding and figure it out."

Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler told the New York Daily News pitching in the Pacific Coast League has been a mental challenge. Pitching in the thin air and high-altitude atmopsheres is messing with Wheeler's psyche, which helps explain a 5.79 ERA through five starts for one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.

"I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal but it’s always in the back of your mind," Wheeler said. "You’re going to get hit from time to time, but sometimes you make a pitch and you say, 'Man, that was a good pitch but it was still off the wall.' It makes you second-guess yourself when it really shouldn’t. It’s human nature but you’ve gotta keep your head on straight and go out and battle."

Wheeler said the lack of moisture in the air affects his ability to grip the baseball.

"Every time after I throw a pitch, I’ve gotta lick my fingers," he said. "Sometimes, before I even throw the next pitch, I’ve gotta step off and lick them again because my fingers are already dry again. It takes some adjusting."

While Wheeler is dealing with some adversity, Triple-A Las Vegas manager Wally Backman and pitching coach Randy St. Clair are not the least bit worried. They continue to say Wheeler is as good as advertised.

"There’s no crisis here," Backman said. "The crisis would be if his 98 (on the radar gun) was only 91."

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, who is on the 15-day disabled list, threw from 90 feet on Monday as he continues to recover from a fractured left collarbone. The metal plate inserted to stabilize the fracture has not hindered his throwing program.

"I was pretty excited when he walked through the weight room today," manager Don Mattingly said. "He's feeling better. We're getting closer. We'll see if he's sore tomorrow or feels good again."

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright made his sixth straight quality start to begin the year on Monday night against the Reds, but it was not enough to overcome his counterpart -- Mat Latos. Wainwright allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings of work in a 2-1 loss.

The right-hander gave up a run in the first for the only damage over his first three frames. A run scored on a groundout in the fourth and he cruised after that.

Wainwright, who threw 99 pitches, also struck out six and walked two while taking his second loss.

His next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Brewers. When he faced Milwaukee on April 13, the 31-year-old threw a complete-game shutout.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said after Monday's 3-2 loss to the Braves that starter Stephen Strasburg dealt with forearm tightness during the outing.

Strasburg will be examined by team doctors before the club decides his status for his next start, which is scheduled for Saturday against the Pirates.

The right-hander is 1-4 with a 3.13 ERA through six starts. He also has 36 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings pitched.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran was able to limit most of his damage in Monday's series opener against the Nationals. He allowed two runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.

The 22-year-old gave up all of his damage in the second when, after putting the first two men on, he surrendered back-to-back run-scoring hits. He threw 58 of his 91 pitches for strikes and was pulled after putting two on in the sixth. Teheran left with the game tied at 2-2 and did not factor into the decision.

The right-hander also struck out five and walked one while lowering his ERA to 5.08.

Teheran is scheduled to pitch next on Saturday against the Mets. He is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in two appearances (one start) in his career against New York.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg recorded a quality start for the fifth time through six outings on Monday night against the Braves. He allowed two runs on six hits over six innings of work.

The right-hander gave up a run in the first before Gerald Laird hit an RBI single off him in the fourth. He cruised after that and was done after throwing 93 pitches, 53 for strikes.

Strasburg left with the game tied at 2-2 and did not factor into the decision. He also struck out eight and walked four.

His next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Pirates. In one start against Pittsburgh last season, he allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings with 13 strikeouts in a win.

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw was placed on the bereavement list Monday to tend to a family situation. The left-hander is expected to return in time for his start on Friday against the Giants.

Kershaw is 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA through six starts. He also has 47 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings pitched.