ATLANTA — No matter how much he insisted he felt fine, Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg didn’t look right to manager Davey Johnson from the time his first pitch sailed to the backstop.
As a result, there are new concerns about Strasburg’s health after he was examined by a doctor following Washington’s 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.
“I think he’s got a little tightness in his forearm,” Johnson said. “So they’re going to put him on some medication.”
Johnson said the hard-throwing righty will have to show he is ready to make his next scheduled start.
“It’s too early,” Johnson said when asked about Strasburg’s status. “I’m sure he’s going to be examined every way you can look at him.”
Strasburg insisted he won’t miss a start.
“I’m not missing my next start,” he said. “I’ll tell you that right now.”
Strasburg had lost a career-worst four straight starts before pitching six innings and getting a no-decision. He is 1-4 with a 3.13 ERA.
Strasburg appeared to struggle to get comfortable on the mound, sometimes shaking his arm after a pitch.
Johnson said Strasburg “doesn’t look right to me.” Strasburg gave up two runs and six hits, walking four and striking out eight.
“His command was way off, so I knew something was off,” Johnson said.
Atlanta beat the Nationals for the eighth straight time dating to last season. The Braves swept three games at Washington earlier this month.
The loss hurt, but Johnson’s mind was on Strasburg’s health.
“He was shaking his elbow more frequently,” Johnson said, adding Strasburg didn’t complain, “but he was irritable.”
“I was really concerned,” Johnson said. “Any other time, I might have let him continue. Hopefully, it’s no more than a tired arm or something.”
Strasburg insisted he “felt good” physically but struggled with his control.
“I couldn’t throw strikes early on,” Strasburg said. “I was able to kind of battle through it and keep it close.”
Asked why he was shaking his arm, he said, “You just try to stay loose.”
