Strasburg receives platelet-rich plasma injection

In his first meeting with the media since he was pulled from his start Wednesday night, Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg said he was relieved the MRI didn't reveal any more damage than a flexor mass strain.

"It was about as good of news as you can get," Strasburg said. "So I'm just trying to take it one day at a time now and do everything I can to get out there, not only as fast as possible but feeling right at the same time."

Strasburg said he was relieved by the diagnosis because his arm felt much more tired than it should after 42 pitches on Wednesday night.

"It was a little alarming to me," Strasburg said. "Even when I went out there for the third, it felt more like the seventh or eighth inning, which was kind of odd. I just tried to get it out and then felt something on a pitch and it didn't really go away. It just kind of stayed there. That's when I knew it probably wouldn't be a good idea to try to throw through it."

Strasburg pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

"I feel like my mechanics improved, but I don't really know why it happened," Strasburg said. "Because you see the first two innings, the velocity was there and my stuff was moving well. Then, for whatever reason, it kind of went down real quick in the third as far as stamina and being able to do what I'm used to doing."

Strasburg said it wasn't just the one high pitch where he felt the pain. It was earlier in the start.

"I think it was a couple pitches before that," Strasburg said. "That was the one where I was like, 'All right.' It wasn't just some fluke thing. I felt it again and again and again."

The Nationals medical staff opted to give Strasburg a platelet-rich plasma injection, which uses a person's own blood to rebuild damaged tendons or cartilage.

Strasburg had the injection Friday and said so far he has had positive results.

"I've felt really good," Strasburg said. "I was a little sore after the injection yesterday. They say it's just normal stiffness from there, that's the only thing I can really feel. But as far as pain or sensitivity, that's pretty much subsided. In talking to some other guys that have had PRP before, they said that for the average person that might get it injected in there, they might be a little more sensitive to it. But because we throw baseballs for a living, that our arms are used to the wear and tear, and therefore able to withstand a little more pain and recover a little bit faster."

This is the first time Strasburg has had a PRP injection.

"My understanding is the PRP is basically they take blood out of you, and pretty much put it in one of the spinning machines and take out the plasma in there," Strasburg said. "That kind of helps with repairing tissue and everything, and they just inject it back to the area that's inflamed or irritated, basically causes inflammation in there to help speed up the recovery process or make it a little bit more solid, I guess."

Strasburg said the Nationals have not described to him exactly what the next step will be. He will have five days of rest.

"Haven't really approached that yet because I just got the injection yesterday, so I'm just doing what I can and what I'm allowed to do in the weight room," Strasburg detailed. "From there, reassess, but I think the biggest thing is just seeing how it feels four to five days from now and (if) everything feels like it's progressing, then start progressing with a little bit more treatment and strengthening up the forearm and getting into some sort of throwing program."

The right-hander has been through his share of injuries involving his elbow, his back and his shoulder. So with that experience, Strasburg won't let this latest setback keep him from working toward returning instead of feeling sorry for himself.

"Unfortunately, this has happened to me so many times that it's just like I can just sit here and let it eat at me, which I've done in the past, and it doesn't make it any better," Strasburg said. "So it's the cards that I've been dealt and I'm just trying to stay positive and learn from it and work even harder."

The biggest question for Strasburg is his status for the postseason. Does he believe he will be back by that time if the Nats make the playoffs?

"I can't make that claim," Strasburg said. "There's still pretty much a month left in the season. I'm just trying to get back healthy. Hopefully, we're still playing baseball."