Strasburg bullpen "went real well," plus other injury updates

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that right-hander Stephen Strasburg made it through his bullpen session Sunday very well.

Strasburg has been on the disabled list with a right elbow nerve impingement retroactive to July 24. He has missed a couple of starts and this week will miss his third turn in a row.

Pitching coach Mike Maddux on the Strasburg bullpen session work Sunday: "Good, went real well, threw a good bullpen."

Maddux estimated Strasburg threw around 31 pitches during the bullpen session. Did he throw every one of his pitches during the session?

"Everything. Going good, no lingering effects," Maddux said. "We are on the path to recovery."

Baker also had updates on Trea Turner (right wrist fracture) and Jayson Werth (left foot contusion).

"Trea is continuing to do his program and he'll be hitting, hopefully pretty soon," Baker said. "Jayson is progressing, he's hitting, he's going to be able to run."

Baker said that Shawn Kelley (right trapezius strain) is rehabbing with Triple-A Syracuse and Stephen Drew (left abdominal strain) is "still trying to get the soreness out."

Michael A. Taylor (right oblique strain) spent last week rehabbing with high Single-A Potomac at home and then on the road over the weekend in Winston-Salem. He was in the clubhouse today with the team, but Baker said Taylor will head back out to continue his rehab. Baker said Taylor feels like he is ready to return now.

"According to them, they're always closer to coming back than they really are," Baker said. "He said he's late on the fastball and it's like starting all over in spring training. I'd say he probably has at least another week."

Max Scherzer was making his way through the clubhouse well and is on target to start tonight after having to leave his last game in Miami with a neck spasm after just one inning of work.

"His arm's good. His legs should be good," Baker said. "But how do you know about a neck? How often do you have to watch a guys neck? So we'll to the signs and Max is very honest, he'll let you know. It's not hero time yet, so we're going to take care of Max and we'll let Max go as far as he needs to go endurance wise."

Baker said he was nervous, as were all Nationals fans, when he watched Scherzer take himself out of the game after just one warmup pitch in the second inning last week. He was confused as to how bad the injury was to Scherzer when he arrived in the dugout.

"I didn't know what was being said either," Baker said. "There's panic in the dugout, too. The first thing you think about is shoulder or elbow or whatever it is. That's what happens, so I just asked him next time wait until I get out there and then tell me versus like that (Max's arm signal to his throat) and then we're all in panic and who was watching that game was in panic. But you know it had to be something because Max wouldn't walk off from a 6-0 lead, and (after hitting) a home run."

Congratulations to Gio Gonzalez and his wife, Lea, as they welcomed their second child, a boy, Gabriel Charles Gonzalez, to the world Sunday morning. Gio Gonzalez had left the team in Chicago and missed his scheduled start to come back to D.C. He is expected to start Wednesday night's game against the Marlins.

The club optioned right-hander Erick Fedde to Syracuse so Gonzalez could rejoin the active roster.