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The nerve pain is gone, Strasbourg plans to throw the mound away

Stephen Strasburg he no longer feels the nerve pain in his right hand that has prevented him from making his first two scheduled starts of the season, and the Nationals they are planning for the right-wing veteran to throw away a mound this weekend and therefore make its debut in 2020 shortly thereafter.

Strasburg, sidelined with what he called a nervous conflict on his right wrist, threw off the ground every two days without problems, according to manager Davey Martinez. After throwing only fastball on Wednesday, he was ready to throw off-speed shots before today’s series finale against the Blue Jays.

If this had been successful, Strasbourg’s next step would have been to tear down the tumpen mound in the next day or two.

“He’s in a good position right now,” said Martinez during today’s pre-match Zoom session with reporters. “He no longer feels that little nervous problem. So we hope to get over it and today it launches better and we can soon bring it out on the mound. “

Strasburg-Release-vs-MIA-Red-Sidebar.jpg A pitcher who loses two starts might normally have to face batsmen live before pitching in a real game, but Martinez said it might not be necessary in the Strasbourg case. Even if he needs it or wants to face it , for the next few days there should be an opportunity to do so, as the team’s weekend streak with the Marlins has been postponed and they are left to schedule simulated games until the next actual game scheduled for Tuesday against the Mets.

“But we’ll see when that time comes,” said Martinez.

The four-day break – Martinez calls it “mini All-Star break” – will allow citizens to restore their entire rotation. For example, Max Scherzer it could start on Tuesday with an extra rest, but technically two of the team’s last three games have started.

When they return to action next week, Nats finally expect to have it Juan Soto in their lineup for the first time in 2020. Soto, who was eliminated from Major League Baseball on Wednesday to return, is expected to be authorized by DC’s Department of Health on Saturday, which would be 10 days after receiving the results of his one and only positive test. for COVID-19.

If that timeline were to materialize, Soto would be able to spend a couple of days training and getting at-bat in simulated games before making his seasonal debut Tuesday against the Mets.

It also gives the unexpected weekend free Howie Kendrick more time to recover from a stiff upper back that has kept him off the ladder for the past two days. The hitting veteran did not appear off the bench during Wednesday night’s victory, although Martinez again suggested that he could be used today in the right situation.

“He is feeling a little better today,” said the manager. “So we thought it would have been smart if we could have dropped him (in training) when we need him today, if he’s available, it would be fantastic.”

Asdrúbal Cabrera will begin first base this afternoon after serving as a designated hitter on Wednesday. Martinez said the infielder veteran took a ball off his foot a few days ago and has a sore toe, which explains why he hasn’t been in third base for the past two days. Carter Kieboom makes his second consecutive start at today’s hot corner.

Josh Harrison, meanwhile, makes his national debut as DH today, three days after the veteran utilityman officially signed on with the club. Martinez didn’t want to rush the 33-year-old into alignment immediately upon his arrival.

“I wanted it to go a little further. He had some spare time, “said Martinez.” He’s doing a lot of things, taking earth balls, taking fly balls. He’s going to DH today. He’s swinging the club well in BP. So give him an opportunity. to get some at-bat today. “

Finally, lifter Wander Serum continue building it on the club’s alternate training site in Fredericksburg after losing most of the summer trainings for undisclosed reasons. His right arm is still trying to improve his fast ball speed, which Martinez said was only 88-89 miles per hour the last time he launched.

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