WASHINGTON — As expected, the Washington Nationals put rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg back on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and scheduled him for a further test this week on his strained right forearm.
Strasburg was on the disabled list earlier this month with tightness in his right shoulder. This is his first season in the majors after being the overall No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.
The Nationals aren't sure when he will pitch again. He will undergo an magnetic resonance imaging arthrogram, where dye is injected into the arm to show contrast, on Thursday.
The Nationals called up right-hander Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse. Washington manager Jim Riggleman said Balester would be used out of the bullpen.
Balester's stay could be a short one, however. The Nationals have not announced who will take Strasburg's scheduled start Thursday, and Balester could be sent back to the minors to make room for another pitcher.
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, sent to Syracuse on Aug. 1 after a minor league rehabilitation assignment following ligament replacement surgery performed in August 2009, could be recalled to make the start.
Riggleman said he had settled on a Thursday starter but would not announce his decision until the official roster move was made.
PHILLIES OSWALT IN THE OUTFIELD:Roy Oswalt became the first Phillies pitcher to play a position in the field in 39 years after Ryan Howard was ejected in the 14th inning on Tuesday night.
Oswalt caught a routine fly ball from Astros catcher Jason Castro, earning a loud ovation from the fans who remained. The last pitcher to play a position was Bill Wilson on Aug. 6, 1971. Oswalt was forced to go into the outfield with Philadelphia out of position players. Raul Ibanez took over at first for Howard.
Howard was tossed by third base umpire Scott Barry after being rung up on a check swing, the second one of the at-bat. He threw his bat and helmet after striking out for the fifth time, causing the ejection, then charged toward Barry, gesturing wildly.
POLE POSITION: Just a bit outside.
A U.S. Army skydiver was left dangling on a flagpole at Rangers Ballpark after his parachute got entangled during a pregame jump Tuesday night.
The Rangers said the unidentified jumper was uninjured after he unbuckled himself from the chute and dropped a few feet to a work platform on top of the scoreboard, the highest point of the stadium. The jumper could been seen walking away while his parachute whipped in the wind for several more minutes before being removed by stadium workers, who arrived quickly.
The skydiver was among several members the U.S. Army Parchute Team known as the Golden Knights who jumped on the breezy night. The rest landed on the field.