Nationals place Strasburg on DL

Sore right elbow means he won’t pitch for two weeks.

Stephen Strasburg’s weary right elbow was stiff and in dire need of some rest, so the Washington Nationals put their winningest pitcher on the 15-day disabled list Monday.

The right-hander was willing to pitch through the pain for the NL East-leading Nationals, but manager Dusty Baker had other plans.

“I told him we hadn’t won anything yet and that we had to look at the big picture,” Baker said. “Hopefully he’ll be good in September and hopefully in October.”

Baker expected Strasburg (15-3, 3.59 ERA) to spend the minimum amount of time on the DL.

“He knows how bad we need him to pitch,” he said. “I had to explain to him that it’s not hero time.”

After bolting to a 15-1 start this season, Strasburg is 0-3 with a 14.66 ERA over his past three outings.

“The recovery after each start started to get a little bit more difficult,” the 28-yearold said. “I felt like I was losing range of motion and wasn’t able to get that back in between starts. I am trying to make it better than it ever was, I guess, and hopefully that will translate into good performance down the road.”

Left-hander Steven Matz was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 15, with shoulder tightness. He joins Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler among New York’s heralded young pitchers on the DL. Righthander Robert Gsellman was recalled from Triple-A.

■ Darryl Strawberry said Monday that he “knew” Dwight Gooden had a drug problem during the taping of their ESPN “30 for 30” documentary last year, but “I kept it quiet.” But Strawberry said he decided last week that he

Mets:

would no longer cover for his longtime former teammate after Gooden failed to show for a personal appearance, prompting Strawberry to go public about his fear for Gooden’s life. Gooden responded Saturday by saying he’s “well” and added in a text message Monday that Strawberry is levying “false accusations,” according to Newsday.

Rockies:

Right-hander Scott Oberg was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 20, with axillary artery thrombosis in his right arm. Right-hander Carlos Estevez was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Cory Seager’s two-run homer Monday gave him 22, trying Glenn Wright’s club record for a shortstop from 1930.

Dodgers: Pirates:

Infielder David Freese signed a two-year, $11 million contract that takes him through the 2018 season. Freese, 33, signed a one-year, $3 million contract as a free agent in March and is hitting .276 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 107 games. The eight-year veteran has made 58 starts at third base and 26 at first base. Freese could have become eligible for free agency again after the World Series.

Left-hander Derek Holland will make his first start in two months tonight at Cincinnati. Righthander Nick Martinez was sent to Triple-A Round Rock. Holland has been on the 60-day DL because of left shoulder inflammation.

Shortstop Zack Cozart missed a fifth straight game Monday with a sore left Achilles tendon. Manager Bryan Price said he’ll miss at least one more game.

Yulieski Gurriel, a 32-year-old Cuban, singled in his first big league at-bat Sunday after being called up from Triple-A Fresno earlier in the day. The designated hitter finished 1 for 2 with a walk and a ground out. He left the game in the eighth with right hamstring tightness and is day to day.

Rangers: Reds: Astros: