Stephen Strasburg expected to return from DL for start

It's expected that right-hander Stephen Strasburg will come off the 15-day disabled list and return to the mound for tonight's series opener with Braves at Nationals Park.

Manager Matt Williams opted to delay naming his starter for tonight's game, but all signs point to Strasburg, who emerged from last Wednesday's rehab start at Double-A Harrisburg appearing comfortable and confident.

Strasburg ended up on the DL when a strained left trapezius muscle forced him out of his May 29 outing in Cincinnati after throwing just 16 pitches. But Strasburg said the problem ended up being muscle spasms and he hasn't experienced any similar pain since.

The right-hander indicated after Wednesday's start that he's currently feeling the best health-wise since arriving for spring training. Strasburg was bothered by a sprained left ankle, which he suffered in the Space Coast Stadium weight room on March 20, and later by an alignment issue in his back that caused him to leave a May 5 start against Miami after tossing just three innings. In fact, the only time Strasburg made out of the fourth inning in his five starts in May was when he allowed three runs in five innings in a win at San Diego on May 17.

Strasburg is 3-5 and his 6.55 ERA remains among the worst in baseball.

"Obviously, what I was doing wasn't really working to my standards and now there's something to shoot for, something to strive for," he said Wednesday.

The hype surrounding this Nationals starting rotation was in large part due to Strasburg's power arm. If he can return to form, and with Doug Fister back from the DL, the Nationals could start to create some space atop the National League East. They'll be looking to build off the momentum created by three stellar starts from rookie Joe Ross, ace Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez in a sweep of the Pirates over the weekend.

"I think our starting pitchers have been incredible," Gonzalez said. "We feel confident that Strasy is back in the rotation. Everyone in that rotation has been incredible, even Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, Dougy back in the rotation. We're super excited to see each one of us constantly picking each other's brain, watching something new and watching Maxy's game (Saturday). It was hard to miss."

Certainly, Scherzer has been the anchor of this rotation and arguably the Nationals' team leader in just his first year with club. His no-hitter on Saturday inspired the Nats to explode for nine first-inning runs on Sunday against the Pirates.

"I think (Saturday) was definitely a momentum - I won't say builder, because Joe did it the night before - but we just carried it over," first baseman/outfielder Clint Robinson said. "Playing with a lot of confidence these past three games. I think Gio fed off of Max and went out there and threw a good ballgame. It's just one of those things of the game where when you get good starting pitching and all the hits start falling - it just makes it fun so you can go out there and win ballgames."

Atlanta is coming into the nation's capital hot after a three-game sweep of their own over the Mets this past weekend. At 35-35, the Braves stand just two games behind the Nats for the division lead.

"We've got one of the best staffs in baseball with Stras coming back this week against the Braves," right fielder Bryce Harper said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going as a team. Hopefully, we can keep it going as a staff. Just keep getting runs on the board for us."

The question remains which Strasburg will return to the hill - the intimidating right-hander who tied for the NL lead in strikeouts last year or 26-year-old showing obvious doubts while laboring through starts.