Report: Strasburg won't start Game 4 due to illness

The perplexity surrounding the Washington Nationals' Game 4 starter has led to yet another update on the status of right-hander Stephen Strasburg.

Following the postponement of Game 4 on Tuesday, manager Dusty Baker surprisingly announced the decision to keep Tanner Roark as Wednesdays' starter. Baker explained that Strasburg pitched a bullpen session earlier in the day, though he did add that the 29-year-old, and several other players, were feeling "under the weather."

It turns out that isn't true, as Strasburg threw his session on Monday in preparation for a Game 4 start, a club spokeswoman told Mark Zuckerman of of MASN.

Strasburg apparently started feeling ill after the team arrived in Chicago. The club determined his endurance level was "down", leading to a collective decision between pitching coach Mike Maddux, general manager Mike Rizzo, Baker, and Strasburg to stick with Roark instead.

"We have full confidence in Tanner," Baker repeated several times on Tuesday, according to ASAP Sports.

With Roark officially starting Wednesday's game, Strasburg, health permitting, would then have the opportunity to start in a do-or-die Game 5 if the Nationals live to fight another day.