STRASBURG THINKS SLIDER HURT ARM

washington» Stephen Strasburg thinks relying too much on his new slider put stress on his pitching arm and contributed to the injury problems that sidelined him during the second half of last season and the playoffs.

“I fell in love with it,” the Nationals right-hander said Sunday, “because it was working, especially the first half. It was a quick out.”

Strasburg threw sliders on 17.1 percent of his pitches last season, according to Fangraphs, more than changeups (13.1) or curveballs (12.6). He said that because the slider was not a pitch he was used to throwing, he had trouble delivering it exactly the same way each time.

That altered his motion, and the fact he went with the slider more often than he should have, he believes, led to a tendon issue in his right elbow — although one that is now resolved, he said.

Angels acquire shortstop

B washington» The Angels acquired shortstop Danny Espinosa from the Nationals for two minor-league pitchers.

The Angels sent right-handers Austin Adams and Kyle McGowin to the Nationals for Espinosa, who presumably lost his starting job when Washington obtained outfielder Adam Eaton from the White Sox. The Associated Press