Strasburg on injury and treatment, Baker on pitching plans vs. Mets

MILWAUKEE - Stephen Strasburg has spent more time with the chiropractor over the past week than he has on the mound. The right-hander didn't want to go on the disabled list after a recurring upper back strain twice forced him to be scratched from scheduled starts, but he understands why the DL move was necessary.

"Goal No. 1 is to figure out what it is and what's causing it and get back here as soon as I can," Strasburg said in the Nationals clubhouse after Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Brewers snapped a seven-game losing streak. "There's still a lot of baseball to play and I know the team needs me in big spots. Just gonna keep working at it and get back as soon as I can."

The Nationals placed Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list before Sunday's game, backdating the move to June 16, the day after his last appearance. The team will announce a corresponding move tomorrow.

Manager Dusty Baker said right-hander Joe Ross would pitch Monday's opener of a critical series against the National League East rival Mets, with righty Max Scherzer working the finale of the three-game set. The Nationals will recall a pitcher from the minor leagues to pitch Tuesday against New York.

Potential candidates include top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito, who is pitching for Double-A Harrisburg, and Austin Voth, who is at Triple-A Syracuse, both of whom would be on turn to pitch Monday or Tuesday. Baker said reliever Yusmiero Petit, who subbed for Strasburg against the Dodgers, is not in line for another spot start after pitching six innings in L.A. and two innings in relief of Gio Gonzalez on Saturday.

"It didn't get any worse, it just didn't get any better," Baker said of Strasburg's upper back issue. "We figure this was the time to DL him. We can backdate it 10 days. Who knows, he might be ready in five or six days."

Strasburg proclaimed himself ready to go for Sunday's start after throwing a light bullpen Friday at Miller Park. But the right-hander ran into trouble when he was running on Saturday and the issue started up again.

"Don't really know why, but it flared back up," Strasburg said. "I tried to get it adjusted, but I think it was just the area they were adjusting wasn't really the root cause if it."

A chiropractor worked on Strasburg's first rib - the upper-most and closest to his neck and upper back - on Saturday, but he didn't feel well enough to avoid the DL.

"I was pretty beat up this time," Strasburg said. "I went through all the different treatment and stuff, trying to get it working, trying to get it normal. I wasn't really feeling progress and I was feeling sore from all the treatment."

But Sunday's manipulation session brought relief - just not quickly enough to help him avoid the DL.

"Had it adjusted again today and kind of got instant relief," Strasburg said. "So just kind of keeping my fingers crossed."