Nats don't believe Strasburg's back injury is serious

The Washington Nationals are confident a back injury that prevented Stephen Strasburg from pitching Monday won't cause the right-hander to miss his next turn in the rotation.

"We don't think it's serious," Nationals manager Dusty Baker told reporters. "We hope that he makes his next start."

Strasburg felt a pinch in his back during a workout Saturday, which continued leading up to his scheduled start Monday against Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Nationals opted to play it safe with the 27-year-old, scratching him from his appearance in order to receive some extra treatment from the training staff.

"I think it's something that's manageable," Strasburg said. "It's gotten better, that's the big thing. It's just still there. I just don't want to make the same mistake I made last year and have it become a long-term thing. I just want to nip it in the bud, and get ready for the next one."

Strasburg is tentatively scheduled to make his next start Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The division-leading Nationals can hardly afford to lose Strasburg. He's 10-0 with a 2.90 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 14 starts this season.