Neck tightness lands Strasburg on the DL, Harper scratched with sore back

The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with neck tightness. Strasburg was forced to leave last night's 5-2 loss to the Reds after throwing just 16 pitches. The right-hander finished the first inning and then began experiencing the discomfort while in the Nats dugout.

"I kinda just sat down and for some reason it just locked up on me," Strasburg told reporters after the game.

It was the second game this month that Strasburg left prematurely due to injury. On May 5, back tightness on his right side retired Strasburg after only three innings. The 26-year-old is stuck in the worst stretch of his professional career, having failed to make it through the fourth inning in four of his last five starts.

Strasburg also suffered a sprained left ankle during conditioning on March 20 that caused him to miss an exhibition start. It is possible that lingering effects from the sprain have led to his most recent setbacks. A trip to the disabled list allows Strasburg to not compromise his mechanics by overcompensating while dealing with the discomfort.

Strasburg is 3-5 with a 6.55 ERA in 10 starts this season.

To fill Strasburg's spot, the Nationals recalled right-hander Taylor Hill from Triple-A Syracuse. Hill, 25, made his major league debut with the Nats last June. In three appearances in Washington, including one start, Hill allowed nine runs on 16 hits over nine innings.

Hill is 3-2 with a 4.35 ERA in nine starts in Syracuse this year. He gives the Nats long relief depth after right-hander Taylor Jordan pitched 4 2/3 innings following Strasburg last night.

Strasburg joins Doug Fister on the DL as the Nats are currently down two of their five starting pitchers.

Update: Right fielder Bryce Harper has been scratched from this afternoon's game in Cincinnati with back soreness.

Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani hit Bryce Harper with a 93 mph fastball square in the back on the first pitch of an at-bat with two outs in the seventh inning last night. Harper remained in the game and later singled off a 102 mph fastball from Reds closer Aroldis Chapman.

Clint Robinson moves to right field and Michael A. Taylor will play left. Robinson was originally in left in today's lineup.