Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg exited Sunday’s start in the third inning due to a left calf ailment.
The 2019 World Series MVP said his calf “grabbed” after throwing his 45th and final pitch in a game against the Houston Astros.
Strasburg underwent an ultrasound and said that he wasn’t deeply concerned.
“Luckily, the reports and stuff from the doctors show nothing major,” Strasburg said. “It was just kind of more of a precautionary thing, take it day to day and see how it feels tomorrow.”
Strasburg pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed one hit, one walk and struck out four before departing. He said he had no issues prior to his final pitch.
“I didn’t really feel it at all except for that last pitch, where I kind of felt it simultaneously as I was finishing the pitch,” Strasburg said.
Strasburg is making a return from carpal tunnel surgery on his pitching hand that limited him to just five innings last season.
Manager Dave Martinez said the club will continue to be cautious with the 32-year-old star.
“We’re in spring training,” Martinez said. “There’s no sense in pushing it. … Stephen’s a tough guy. We know that in the past, he has pitched with cramps. But this is something right now that he doesn’t need to be out there if he felt that.”
The three-time All-Star owns a 112-59 mark with a 3.19 ERA in 241 career starts in his 11 seasons with the Nationals. The San Diego State product was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft.