Zimmerman out with sore shoulder, to have MRI

SAN DIEGO -- Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's sore right shoulder held him out of the lineup again on Tuesday, and Zimmerman will have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Manager Davey Johnson expressed concern and said the results of the MRI should be known following the series opener against the Padres.

"I don't have a good feeling," Johnson said. "He's had three days off, and he had treatment for inflammation. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but we'll know after they take the MRI."

The third baseman has not played since Friday, and he said the pain is only present when he swings a bat.

"It felt perfectly fine throwing," Zimmerman said. "There's nothing wrong structurally with the shoulder. I can throw and it felt fine, it's just a little sore when swinging. It's like a jammed finger or sprained ankle, I guess is the best way to explain it, except it's in my shoulder."

Johnson fears that Zimmerman could miss even more time.

"I think the feeling is that there could be a little strain," Johnson said. "If that shows up positive, he's probably going to be down for at least a week, maybe more."

Strasburg disappointed he won't pitch at Petco

SAN DIEGO -- While Stephen Strasburg was enjoying his return to his hometown, the San Diego native did express some disappointment about missing a chance to start at Petco Park.

"Yeah, a little bit," Strasburg said. "Obviously, it would be fun to pitch in front of the hometown crowd, but it's just not the way the rotation fell this year."

Strasburg may have been in line to pitch in the series finale on Thursday, but a rainout on Sunday pushed the starting rotation back, and with Monday's off-day, Strasburg will start on Saturday in Los Angeles instead.

"As a San Diego kid, it would be way different if I was pitching here," Strasburg said. "L.A. is just another park."

Strasburg, who still lives in San Diego during the offseason, spent most of the off-day on Monday visiting friends and family members throughout the county. He attended West Hills High School about 15 miles east of San Diego, and also went to college at San Diego State University.

Strasburg twice pitched for his college team at Petco Park, and looks forward to the chance to do so again down the line.

"Obviously, with the rain on Saturday, it got pushed back, so I kind of knew it probably wasn't going to happen," Strasburg said. "I've pitched here in college twice before, so I know it's just going to be a matter of time before I get that opportunity."