Stephen Strasburg returns from DL to start tonight (with lineups)

Stephen Strasburg returns to the mound tonight for the first time since a strained left trapezius muscle landed him on the 15-day disabled list on May 30. The day before, Strasburg's neck tightness forced him out of his start in Cincinnati after throwing only 16 pitches. He said the muscle spasms settled down shortly after and he began throwing again just a few days into his DL stint.

Strasburg looked sharp in his lone rehab start at Double-A Harrisburg last Wednesday. He allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts in five innings. Strasburg threw 71 pitches in the outing and then added another nine in a quick bullpen session after. He indicated after the start that he is in the best health since showing up for spring training in February.

Strasburg has struggled mightily throughout his first ten starts of the season. He owns a disappointing 3-5 record with a dreadful 6.55 ERA and opponents are batting .325 against him.

With Strasburg back, right-hander Joe Ross has been sent down to Triple-A Syracuse. Ross was 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts with the Nationals.

Meanwhile, Washington gets a break not having to face Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was placed on the 15-day DL earlier this afternoon with a right wrist contusion. Freeman has torched the Nationals this season, hitting .520 (13-for-25) with five doubles.

Bryce Harper sets a National League All-Star voting record with 9.2 million votes, breaking Giants catcher Buster Posey's previous record by nearly 2 million votes.

For the Braves:

2B Jace Peterson
CF Cameron Maybin
RF Nick Markakis
C A.J. Pierzynski
3B Juan Uribe
1B Chris Johnson
SS Andrelton Simmons
LF Eury Perez
LHP Alex Wood

For the Nationals:

CF Denard Span
2B Anthony Rendon
3B Yunel Escobar
RF Bryce Harper
C Wilson Ramos
SS Danny Espinosa
1B Tyler Moore
LF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Stephen Strasburg