Strasburg pitches into sixth, Zimmerman begins rehab today

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 16, 2018, 3:29am

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Right-hander Stephen Strasburg completed 5 2/3 innings in his second rehab start for high Single-A Potomac on Sunday. He scattered five hits, allowing three runs, none of which were earned. He struck out seven and walked none.

Strasburg (0-1) threw 82 pitches, 55 for strikes. The P-Nats lost the game, 5-4, to Frederick.

He had thrown 57 pitches over 3 1/3 innings July 10. So if he recovers well this week he is on target to return to the Nationals rotation to begin the second half, which is July 20 as they host the second place Braves.

Strasburg has been out since June 10 with right shoulder inflammation. He has missed 32 games. The Nats have gone 11-22 since he departed.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman begins his rehab today for the P-Nats in a 12:05 p.m. game against Frederick. He has missed 57 games with an oblique injury.

Double-A Harrisburg is home Tuesday and Wednesday. Triple-A Syracuse is home the entire week, through July 22.

This will be Zimmerman's sixth appearance with the P-Nats since 2008.

If the Nats can return Strasburg and Zimmerman to the lineup this week, that could go a long way in boosting the starting pitching and the offense to a level they need to get back in the National League East race.