Strasburg leaves in third inning with apparent injury

What should have been among the most encouraging moments of the season's final month - Stephen Strasburg returning to the mound after a brief stint on the disabled list - instead turned into a potential nightmare scenario for the Nationals and their $175 million right-hander, who had to depart in the top of the third inning with an apparent injury that left the ballpark in stunned silence.

Strasburg grimaced after throwing each of his last two pitches: a fastball to Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz that sailed way high of the strike zone, then a slider that Foltynewicz bunted foul for a strikeout. After the latter pitch, Strasburg looked immediately toward the Nationals dugout, prompting head athletic trainer Paul Lessard and pitching coach Mike Maddux to come check on him.

After a brief discussion, Strasburg walked off the field, straight down the dugout steps and toward the home clubhouse, glove covering his mouth and nose, as teammates watched with obvious concern.

The Nationals, who typically don't provide injury updates until a game is over, had no immediate announcement about the reason for Strasburg's abrupt departure.

The 28-year-old hurler, who famously needed Tommy John surgery after tearing his elbow ligament during his rookie season in 2010, hadn't faced live hitters in the last three weeks due to what the team called a "sore elbow."

Strasburg was back throwing off a bullpen mound only one week after going on the DL, a drill he repeated four more times since before being activated tonight to make his return without pitching in a minor-league rehab game.

The start of tonight's game was delayed 57 minutes by the threat of storms in the area that didn't actually produce significant rain at Nationals Park until the bottom of the first. Strasburg looked sharp at the outset, retiring the side on 14 pitches in the top of the first, hitting 97 mph with his fastball and striking out both Adonis Garcia and Freddie Freeman on 91 mph changeups.

He labored a bit in the top of the second, throwing 20 pitches, but escaped the inning allowing only one single and recording another strikeout on a changeup.

The third inning was a different story. Dansby Swanson led off with a double down the right field line, bringing Foltynewicz to the plate in a bunt situation. With the count 0-2, Strasburg threw a fastball that registered 92 mph way above the zone, then grimaced. He remained in the game and threw another pitch, this one an 84-mph slider that Foltynewicz fouled on a bunt attempt to strike out.

That was the last pitch Strasburg threw tonight. Whether it's the last pitch he throws for a while remains to be seen.