Baseball notebook

Strasburg DL-bound

Nationals star rookie to have second MRI

Associated Press / August 24, 2010

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Stephen Strasburg is headed back to the disabled list, and his prized right arm will undergo another examination that will largely determine whether he pitches again this season.

The Washington Nationals rookie will have a second MRI to see if anything more than a strained tendon in his forearm caused him to grimace after throwing a changeup in Saturday’s game at Philadelphia. Strasburg was removed from the game and underwent an MRI Sunday.

The exam “showed some things on there that led us to set up another MRI,’’ general manager Mike Rizzo said yesterday. Rizzo said the upcoming test will be done in the “next day or two’’ and will use an injection of dye that should render a full view of the injured area.

For now, the Nationals are still calling Strasburg’s injury a flexor strain in his throwing arm. He had been scheduled to start again Thursday, but instead will find himself on the disabled list for the second time in less than a month. The Nationals are expected to make the move official soon.

“He’s anxious to find out what’s going on,’’ Rizzo said. “His elbow felt good today . . . To say he’s a little anxious, a little emotional would be fair to say.’’

Strasburg, who is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings, was hurt while making his third start since returning from the DL because of inflammation in the back of his right shoulder.

Rizzo said Strasburg arrived at Nationals Park yesterday hoping do some throwing. The Nationals, who have been extremely cautious with Strasburg’s development, told him no. Strasburg has told the team he had a similar problem at San Diego State and pitched through it. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2009.

Twins lose Mahay

Twins lefthanded reliever Ron Mahay is out for the season with a torn right rotator cuff. The Twins got better news on righthander Kevin Slowey, out with a mild muscle strain in his right triceps. An MRI revealed no significant damage, and Slowey is expected to be back in the rotation in a couple of weeks . . . The Giants cleared roster room for new outfielder Cody Ross by designating infielder Matt Downs for assignment and placing righthander Guillermo Mota on the 15-day DL. Ross was awarded to San Francisco on a waiver claim from the Marlins . . . The Brewers released righthander David Riske, who has struggled since returning from last season’s elbow surgery.

Gag order for Clemens trial

A judge assigned to Roger Clemens’s perjury case in Washington issued a gag order designed to prohibit public comments that could affect the jury pool for a possible trial. Clemens was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress . . . Longtime NL umpire Satch Davidson, 75, died at his home in Houston. Obituary, Page B12.