21-year old rookie righty starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg is done for the season due to a strained flexor tendon in his right forearm. Strasburg pitched in 12 games (all starts) for the Nationals this year and he was 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He whiffed 92 batters while only giving up 56 hits in his first 68 innings of his major league career. The most impressive thing to me about Strasburg this year was his control as he only walked 17 batters this year. The Nationals have to be very excited about Strasburg who will likely give them an ace at the top of the starting rotation for a long, long time.

UPDATE: (8/28/2010) - Strasburg is not only done for 2009 but he’s done for 2010 as well as he needs Tommy John Surgery. This is a HUGE blow to the Nationals’ organization.

The Nationals have placed 31-year old righty swinging LF Josh Willingham on the 15-day disabled list with a medial meniscus tear in his left knee. This injury will likely end his 2010 season. Willingham played in 114 games for the Nationals this year and he was 99 of 370 (.268 avg, .848 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 16 homers, 56 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Nationals will miss Willingham’s power. The Nationals have activated 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Nyjer Morgan to replace Willingham on the active roster and in the outfield. He has played in 103 games for the Nationals this year and he is 103 of 394 (.261 avg, .644 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 20 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.

The Nationals will activate Stephen Strasburg off the D.L. to start tomorrow’s ball game. He has started 9 games for the Nationals this year and he is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has only given up 43 hits while whiffing 75 batters in only 54 1/3 innings so far this year. The Nationals were smart to take it easy with Strasburg and give him some time off because of his importance to the organization both now and in the future. Craig Stammen will be bumped from the rotation to work out of the pen. Stammen has started 19 games for the Nationals this year and he is 4-4 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.

The Nationals have placed 24-year old lefty starting pitcher Ross Detwiler on the 15-day disabled list with a hip injury. Detwiler has started 3 games for the Nationals this year and he is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. He will be replaced in the starting rotation by Jason Marquis who has been activated off the D.L. Marquis has started 4 games for the Nationals this year and he is 0-4 with a 15.32 ERA and a 2.51 WHIP. The Nationals really need Marquis to start earning his paycheck this time around.

The Nationals have placed 29-year old starting LF Nyjer Morgan on the 15-day disabled list with a hip flexor injury. Morgan has played in 103 games for the Nationals this year and he is 103 of 394 (.261 avg, .644 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 0 homers, 20 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. The Nationals will miss his speed but Morgan has been disappointing so far this year for them.