Stephen Strasburg taken out as precaution with arm stiffness

ByABC News
July 23, 2017, 8:35 PM

— -- Washington Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg was removed from Sunday's game in Arizona after only two innings because he experienced some stiffness in his throwing arm.

Manager Dusty Baker said the 29-year-old right-hander was taken out as a precaution and would be evaluated by team doctors Tuesday after the Nationals return to Washington.

"The stuff was good but it's still kind of like, lingering," Strasburg said after his team's 6-2 win?over the? Diamondbacks, "and I just want to nip it in the bud now, hopefully not miss any time and try and be smart about it."

Strasburg described the problem as slight "achiness" in his forearm.

"The All-Star break kind of messed me up throwing-wise and treatment-wise," he said. "I think my arm is just kind of taking a while to get back in the swing of things, unfortunately. I pitched through it last game and obviously did well. But it was kind of still lingering there and I said, 'You know what, I've got to be smart about it.'"

In his previous start in Cincinnati, Strasburg went seven innings, limiting the Reds to one run on four hits while fanning 11 and walking one.

"It's not really like intense pain in a specific area," he said. "It's just kind of like general tightness, and I'm having a tough time to really get loose out there."

Strasburg, 10-3 with a 3.25 ERA, uncharacteristically walked the No. 8 and No. 9 Diamondbacks batters in the second inning before departing with a 5-0 lead. He threw 51 pitches, 29 for strikes.

"He's had a little stiffness, really couldn't get loose even though he's throwing the ball well," Baker said. "So we'll analyze it when we get back home after he sees our doctors and hopefully we'll have an answer on Tuesday."

Strasburg has an injury history, including Tommy John surgery in 2010.

The Nationals also lost reliever Enny Romero to an apparent injury with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. He had thrown 1? innings, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. He has a 3.63 ERA on the season.

Sunday was a tough day for top starters. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw also left his start after two innings because of right lower back tightness.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.