The Stephen Strasburg Express Train to Glory got switched onto a siding Tuesday, and it's going to sit there for a few days until team officials are sure the stiffness in his shoulder is just a temporary thing and not something more ominous.
Instead of facing the Atlanta Braves, Strasburg was checked by a team doctor and sent for an MRI and X-ray. Strasburg was diagnosed with inflammation in his rather valuable right shoulder.
"I wasn't really scared, because it's kind of something that I've had happen to me before," Strasburg said, referring to feeling stiffness in his right shoulder while in college at San Diego State. "It wasn't on just one pitch, so that's obviously a big thing."
The team did not say when Strasburg would return. The Phillies play in Washington this weekend; Strasburg's next turn in the rotation comes Sunday.
Atlanta's Chipper Jones wasn't too torn up about not having to face Strasburg: "For him not to pitch was a little disappointing, but I applaud what the Nationals did, because that's their franchise for the next 15 years, and if he wakes up with a hangnail, I'm pulling him out."
There was some booing from the sellout Washington crowd of more than 40,000 when it was told that 39-year-old journeyman reliever Miguel Batista would be pitching instead of Strasburg.
Still, Batista, who wound up pitching five scoreless innings in Washington's 3-0 victory, understood the fans' disappointment: "Imagine if you go there to see Miss Universe - and you end up having Miss Iowa," he said.
Well, this Miss Iowa shut down the Braves on three hits over five innings.
How many outs was that?
Cincinnati's Travis Wood won his first major-league game Wednesday, getting plenty of run support in a 10-2 win over Milwaukee. Not to say Wood had the jitters or anything, but as he was walking off the mound toward the dugout after striking out Joe Inglett in the third, he had to be called back - because there were only two outs. Oops. Wood then struck out opposing pitcher Chris Narveson to end the inning.
Horrors! Call the fashion police
It's bad enough they do this rinky-dink nonsense in the NFL (No-Fun League). But the tentacles of Sartorial Correctness have now insinuated themselves into The One True Sport. San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson has been fined by Major League Baseball for wearing orange cleats during Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Florida Marlins. The shoes, a gift from Nike presented to Wilson at the All-Star Game, apparently violated the league's dress code.
Noteworthy
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Scott Podsednik from the Kansas City Royals for a pair of minor leaguers. . . . Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee rejected a trade to the Los Angeles Angels, saying he prefers to finish the season with his team. . . . Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder was ejected after being called out on strikes to end the eighth inning Wednesday when he slammed his helmet.
Contact staff writer Al Campbell at acampbell@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
Photos: Phillies 7, D'Backs 1
Video: High expectations for Domonic Brown 
