Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg placed on 10-day IL with neck injury

The Washington Nationals have placed star pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day injured list with a neck injury, said to be a strain. The IL designation comes after Strasburg underwent an MRI.  Strasburg started Tuesday’s 11-6 win over the Atlanta Braves but threw only 30 pitches before exiting in the second inning.

Following the Nationals’ 2019 World Series victory, the 32-year-old right-handed pitcher signed a seven-year, $245 million contract. He had finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting and won the World Series MVP.   However Strasburg pitched only two games in 2020, eventually undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel neuritis in his throwing hand.  He was also more recently placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation in April.