San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
STRASBURG MISSES START
World Series MVP and San Diego native Stephen Strasburg was scratched from what was supposed to be his first start of the season for the Washington Nationals on Saturday night because of a nerve issue with his right hand.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced about four hours before the scheduled first pitch against the visiting New York Yankees that Strasburg would be replaced as his team’s starter by Erick Fedde.
Strasburg described the problem as a nerve impingement in his wrist and said it initially arose early this month when teams reconvened for a ramp-up to the regular season. One of the first symptoms was that his hand would fall asleep.
He felt something wrong from his wrist to his thumb, particularly during his most recent appearance, in an exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles last week.
“It got to the point where I didn’t have the same feeling in my hand holding the ball,” Strasburg said, “and it was affecting my ability to command the baseball the way I’m accustomed to.”
The right-hander said he felt improvement in his fingers after receiving his “last shot” on Friday — both he and Martinez likened the treatment to a cortisone injection — but Strasburg didn’t elaborate when asked whether that meant he got more than one.
“Nerve issues are pretty fickle,” Strasburg said.
He said he hopes resting now will allow him to “be back much sooner than if I try to gut it out at this point.”
Strasburg said he wasn’t “extremely concerned” and doubts he will be sidelined for too long.
Martinez’s take: “Hopefully this is a day-to-day thing. We want to be cautious.”
Ohtani’s turn
Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is set to make his first appearance on the mound since Sept. 2, 2018, after not pitching all last season following elbow surgery. Ohtani is under no restrictions when he faces the Athletics in Oakland.
“It’s a little mix of everything, some worries, some excitement,” Ohtani said through a translator. “There won’t be fans so that will be weird, too.”
Ohtani was the Angels’ designated hitter in the season opener Friday night and didn’t play Saturday.
Mike Fiers will start for the A’s in his first appearance since revealing to The Athletic in November that his former team, the Houston Astros, had stolen signs using a camera in center field during their run to the 2017 World Series championship.
Carrasco to start
Carlos Carrasco’s inspirational comeback reaches another milestone as the Indians right-hander makes his first start since May 30 last season, shortly before he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Carrasco will face the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series in Cleveland. Despite undergoing medical treatments that kept him away from the club, Carrasco was able to return last season and made 11 relief appearances. He wanted to start again, however, and secured a spot in Cleveland’s rotation this spring.
The 33-year-old Carrasco understood he might be at greater risk this season because his immune system has been compromised due to the disease. But after talking to his family and Cleveland’s medical personnel, he felt comfortable enough to play.
Kluber’s long road
Two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber makes his first major league start in 15 months when he debuts for the Texas Rangers at home against the Colorado Rockies.
Kluber’s last big-league start was for Cleveland on May 1, 2019, when he suffered a broken right forearm struck by a comeback liner in Miami. He hurt an oblique during rehab and never started again for Cleveland, which traded him to Texas in December.
“Not really thinking about how long it has been since I pitched,” the 34-yearold Kluber said.
Notable
Nats catcher Tres Barrera was suspended 80 games without pay by after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. MLB said Barrera, a 25-year-old who made his major league debut last September, tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance or DHCMT, the chemical compound used in a drug that fueled Olympic athletes in the former East Germany decades ago.
The Astros played a pregame video tribute on Saturday to Jimmy Wynn and Bob Watson, who both died this offseason. Wynn and Watson both spent the majority of their major league careers with the Astros and worked with the franchise on community outreach in their later years. Before their passing, the Astros honored the men by naming facilities after them at the Astros Youth Academy with the Jimmy Wynn Training Center and the Bob Watson Education Center.
Vin Scully appeared via video to give the pregame call of, “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” The retired Hall of Fame broadcaster wore a jacket and tie and appeared to be standing in his backyard.
Indians OF Tyler Naquin was placed on the injured list with a hairline fracture in his right big toe. Naquin fouled a ball off his foot last week and needs more time to recover.
Pirates OF Gregory Polanco (COVID-19) passed all return protocols and worked out at PNC Ballpark. There is no timetable on his return.