Strasburg 1st felt tightness ‘couple days ago’

WASHINGTON (AP) - Nationals rookie right-hander Stephen Strasburg says he first felt tightness in his pitching shoulder “a couple days ago” and chalks it up to “kind of hitting the wall a little bit.”

A day after being scratched minutes before what was supposed to be the 10th major league start of his much-hyped career, Strasburg says Wednesday he feels “a lot better” and his range of motion is “starting to come back.”

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and trainer Lee Kuntz have said Strasburg did not indicate he had a problem before Tuesday, when his pregame bullpen session was stopped.

Strasburg took anti-inflammatory medicine Wednesday and will go at least two days without throwing at all. It’s not clear when he will next pitch in a game.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The first hiccup of Stephen Strasburg’s much-hyped major league career came during a pregame warmup session on the home bullpen mound at Nationals Park.

After about a half-dozen tosses, Strasburg was approached by Washington pitching coach Steve McCatty, who asked a simple question.

“I just said, ‘Well, how’re you feeling?’ He said, ‘I feel stiff. My shoulder’s stiff,’” McCatty recalled hours later Tuesday night.

“I said, ‘How bad?’ He said, ‘It’s just stiff, but I can get loose.’ I said, ‘Uh, no.’ And that was it,” McCatty continued.

McCatty immediately relayed that exchange to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, who wasted no time in declaring that Strasburg would be scratched from what was supposed to be his 10th start in the majors.

“Stephen was having trouble getting loose in the bullpen, and so I pulled the plug on it,” said Rizzo, adding that he considered it a “precautionary move.”

Instead of facing the Atlanta Braves, Strasburg was checked by a team doctor and sent for an MRI and X-ray. Rizzo said none of the tests showed structural problems, and that Strasburg was diagnosed with inflammation in his rather valuable right shoulder.

“No cuff damage. No labral damage,” Rizzo said, “so that’s good news.”

Rizzo said Strasburg, who turned 22 on July 20, is day to day. The team is not certain when the righty will pitch next.

“We’re still not sure where he’s at,” the GM said.

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