Strasburg getting examined by neurologist in L.A.

MIAMI - Stephen Strasburg, despite a poor pitching line, didn't report any physical issues following his start Friday night against the Braves, his first outing following a six-week stint on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Strasburg also didn't report any problems after he threw off the bullpen mound in Milwaukee on Monday.

But when the right-hander returned to the clubhouse Wednesday morning after playing catch at Miller Park, he informed manager Davey Martinez something was wrong with his neck. And that's why Tommy Milone - not Strasburg - is starting tonight at Marlins Park in the opener of a four-game series that could determine the direction this team takes at next week's trade deadline and beyond.

The Nationals placed Strasburg on the 10-day DL later Wednesday with a cervical nerve impingement - essentially, a pinched nerve in his neck - and scrambled to get Milone from Triple-A Syracuse to Miami in time to make his first major league start of the season tonight. It was an unexpected move that was finally announced this morning, but one the club felt was necessary for Strasburg.

"Yesterday, he came into my office and said he felt it," Martinez said. "So (director of athletic training Paul Lessard) saw him. We had the doctor look at him, and we thought the best thing was to put him on the DL and get him checked out."

There's no firm timetable for Strasburg to return. His DL move was backdated the maximum three days allowed, so he's eligible to come back as soon as Aug. 1, but the Nationals don't know yet if that's going to be possible.

Martinez said Strasburg had an MRI, which revealed no shoulder problems. He has since flown to Los Angeles and is scheduled to be examined by a neurologist.

"He did a nerve test, and he has a slight impingement in his neck, so he's going to see a neurologist," the manager said. "And right now there's no timetable for his return. Hopefully, we get him right and get him better soon."

As they wait for a more conclusive diagnosis, the Nationals and Strasburg are holding out hope this is similar to what he experienced in 2015. That proved to be a relatively minor neck and upper back injury that responded quickly to treatment and allowed the right-hander to return and pitch effectively: In his final 10 starts following his DL stint in 2015, Strasburg went 6-2 with a 1.92 ERA.

At this point, the Nats can only wait for a diagnosis and treatment plan from the neurologist.

"It could be related (to the 2015 injury)," Martinez said. "We don't know for sure until they run that neurological test on him. I just hope it's nothing major and we get him back soon."