Strasburg injury: No structural damage

After experiencing tightness in his pitching arm following his start against the Atlanta Braves last night, Washington Nationals' ace Stephen Strasburg is not expected to miss a start.

In fact, the Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo went so far as to declare Strasburg, 24, "structurally perfect", reports The Washington Post. The tissue that was an issue is not related to the ligament Strasburg had repaired in Tommy John surgery.

The Nationals certainly will not take any undue risks with their prized pitcher, but early word is that he will be good to go on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Washington has shown their unwillingness to risk Strasburg in the past, shutting him down a month before the end of the season in 2012 despite the team making the playoffs.

Strasburg has picked up where he left off last season, posting a 3.13 ERA through his first six starts. He struck out eight Braves in six innings yesterday and allowed just two earned runs, good for his fifth quality start of the year. However, he did have some unusual--for him--control issues, walking four Atlanta hitters. In addition, scouts have reportedly noticed a mechanical glitch in the right-handers pitching motion. Strasburg has been slackening his delivery, which could be the result of discomfort in his arm.

Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post speculates that the irritation may have been a result of normal pre-game electrical stimulation used on his forearm to relax the muscles.

With how careful the Nationals have been with Strasburg, if they say he is likely to make his best start they certainly believe that he will be healthy going forward.