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Nationals place Strasburg on DL with upper back strain

Rob Tringali/Sportschrome / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Washington Nationals will be without their ace for the next little while, as the team announced Sunday that Stephen Strasburg has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with an upper back strain.

The DL stint is retroactive to June 16, and a corresponding move will be announced Monday.

Fantasy Fallout: Stream replacements while Strasburg is on the shelf

Strasburg has jumped out to a fantastic start to 2016, owning a 10-0 record while averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Since earning his 10th win he's been scratched from two straight starts due to the injury, which was initially deemed not serious by manager Dusty Baker. The 27-year-old was on track to take his turn Sunday against Milwaukee, but was scratched late Saturday night after a flare-up that ultimately led to the DL stint.

Strasburg's injury comes at an inopportune time for the Nationals, as they've lost seven games in a row entering Sunday's action, a skid that's cut their NL East lead over the Mets to just two games. The Nationals and Mets are set to meet in a critical three-game set beginning Monday.

Washington signed the former first overall pick to a seven-year, $175-million extension in May.

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