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Strasburg coming off DL to pitch in crucial series vs. Phillies

Daniel Shirey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Stephen Strasburg will come off the disabled list to start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in the Washington Nationals' biggest series of the season, according to MLB.com's Jamal Collier.

The electric right-hander has pitched just once since June 8. Strasburg was originally placed on the DL with right shoulder inflammation June 9, returned for one start July 20, and has been sidelined since with a cervical nerve impingement.

Before the season, the Nats were widely expected to cruise to an NL East title, but heading into Sunday, they sit seven games back of the division-leading Atlanta Braves and 6 1/2 back of the second-place Phillies, who also lead the NL wild-card race.

Knowing what's on the line this week, the Nationals have aligned their rotation accordingly against Philadelphia. Tanner Roark will start Tuesday, Strasburg will go Wednesday, and Max Scherzer will take the ball for the series finale Thursday.

"Credit to Stras that he got himself ready to pitch for us and got the opportunity to go up against a team we're trying to catch," manager Dave Martinez said Sunday. "He's been working diligently to get ready and he feels good. It's nice to go into that series with our three best pitchers."

Strasburg threw a 70-pitch simulated game on Wednesday in St. Louis and a bullpen Saturday. The Nats decided a minor-league rehab assignment wouldn't be necessary.

The oft-injured 30-year-old has made 30 starts in a season just twice in his career. He's posted a 3.90 ERA in 85 1/3 innings across 14 starts in 2018, racking up 101 punchouts.

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