Top storylines:
Strasburg likely to return this week – The Nationals won’t say it, but all signs point to Stephen Strasburg making his return from the disabled list this week against the Atlanta Braves, likely on Tuesday. Gio Gonzalez and Bryce Harper both mentioned Strasburg’s return after Sunday’s game, but the Nats said they do not plan to confirm anything until today or on Tuesday morning.
Strasburg has worked up to 80 pitches in a bullpen session after throwing 71 in a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg last Wednesday. Before Strasburg’s most recent bullpen, Matt Williams said this about his next step, if he came out healthy:
“There’s no reason he couldn’t go to 95 and get in a big league game and do that.