Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to throw another simulated game at extended spring training this weekend, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Strasburg felt good coming out of his two-inning simulated game Tuesday, so he'll face hitters for the second time this week and presumably increase his pitch count. The Nationals will reassess Strasburg after the simulated game before potentially mapping out a minor-league rehab assignment for the right-hander. Washington has thus far resisted moving Strasburg to the 60-day injured list, which signals that the team is leaving the door open for him to make his season debut for the big club before June 7.

Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to pitch a two-inning simulated game this week at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he wants Strasburg to build up his pitch count a bit more before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, so the 33-year-old seems likely to remain in Florida for at least another week. The Nationals have been bringing Strasburg along slowly as he works his way back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which cut short his 2021 season. Since he'll presumably require multiple rehab starts before returning from the 10-day injured list, Strasburg appears unlikely to make his 2022 Nationals debut until June.

Strasburg (neck) will pitch against live hitters Wednesday at the Nationals' spring training facility, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Strasburg threw a 37-pitch bullpen session last week and will now progress to facing live hitters as he continues ramping up his rehab program. The veteran right-hander could begin a minor-league rehab assignment within the next couple weeks if Wednesday's session goes well.

Strasburg (neck) threw a 37-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Strasburg slightly increased his pitch count Wednesday after he threw 30 pitches Friday. The right-hander has been trying to go out of the windup, and manager Dave Martinez is hopeful that Strasburg will be able to resume facing hitters soon. A timetable for his return isn't yet clear, but it'd be a significant step in his recovery if he's able to face live hitters.

Strasburg (neck) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Strasburg hasn't yet resumed facing hitters and has been limited to mound work recently. The Nationals haven't yet indicated when the right-hander will be able to return to game action, but he'll presumably require several weeks to build up once he's cleared to face hitters. A better recovery timetable will likely come into focus once he's able to ramp up his throwing program.

Washington manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) remains limited to throwing off a mound and hasn't advanced to facing hitters in live batting practice, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shortly before Opening Day, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reported that Strasburg was scheduled to face hitters within a week, but the Nationals have seemingly slowed down his rehab timeline. Though the Nationals haven't indicated that Strasburg is experiencing any setbacks in his recovery from the surgery he underwent last July, the organization has reason to proceed cautiously with a pitcher who is in the third season of a seven-year, $245 million contract and has a checkered medical history. Once he's cleared to face hitters, Strasburg will likely need three or four weeks to build up his pitch count through simulated games and/or a minor-league rehab assignment, so he shouldn't be expected to make his 2022 debut for the Nationals until the second half of May at the earliest.

The Nationals placed Strasburg (neck) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Strasburg is being brought along slowly to begin the season while he works his way back from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent last July. He's seemingly experienced no setbacks since reporting to spring training, as he's been throwing throughout camp and has faced hitters. Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reported Tuesday that Strasburg is in line to throw another live bullpen session next week at extended spring training in Florida, where he's expected to continue building up for a few more weeks before potentially heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Per Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington, general manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that it's a "possibility" that Strasburg could make his season debut with the Nationals as early as May 1, though the organization is reluctant to put a hard timeline on his return.

Strasburg (neck) may not make his season debut until some time in May, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nationals manager Dave Martinez dropped a couple breadcrumbs Wednesday regarding the team's plans for Strasburg, saying both that he wanted the right-hander to stay in the rotation once he joins it this season, and that he's expecting 20-25 starts from him. The high end of that range would suggest Strasburg will be making his 2022 debut in mid-May, although he could also make his first start sooner than that and get extra rest between turns over the summer to meet Martinez's target. Even that big a workload might be optimistic, however, as Strasburg has tossed only 26.2 big-league innings over the last two years and is coming back from thoracic outlet surgery, a procedure which so far has had a very spotty track record when it comes to pitchers regaining their prior form.

Strasburg (neck) has been building up but is not yet ready to pitch in a Grapefruit League game, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Past reports suggested Strasburg may not be ready for Opening Day as he looks to build up cautiously after missing most of last season due to thoracic outlet syndrome. That still appears to be the case. He threw live batting practice last week and will throw a similar session again soon, but his timeline for an in-game appearance remains unclear.

Strasburg (neck) acknowledged that though he felt good while facing hitters during Tuesday's live batting practice session, he may not be ready to go by Opening Day due to the compressed spring training caused by the MLB lockout, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. "I think for me, it's about sticking to the program, and my routine is having a six-week spring training," said Strasburg, whose 2021 season was cut short after he underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last July. "I think of all years to try and be aggressive, I don't know if that's necessarily the right year, the right time to do it."

EDGE Analysis

Based on the comments made so far this spring from general manager Mike Rizzo, manager Dave Martinez and himself, Strasburg seems to be in an excellent spot health-wise following a procedure that has been known to derail pitchers' careers in the past. Even though Strasburg isn't behind any of the other starting pitchers in camp, the veteran right-hander and the Nationals both appear to be on the same page about not pushing things during the buildup process at the risk of negating all the good progress he's made in his recovery thus far. If Strasburg stays committed to the six-week buildup program and he feels mentally ready to pitch by the end of it, he'll still be on pace to make his season debut by mid-to-late April, which would put him on track to make 30-plus starts over the course of a full campaign.