Strasburg is back for Nationals

On Tuesday, a little more than a year after his right elbow popped as he pitched against the Phillies, Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start.

The injury on Aug. 21, 2010, ended Strasburg's rookie season, giving him a 5-3 record and 2.91 ERA in 12 starts. He underwent Tommy John surgery a few weeks later, which means he has returned at the front end of the 12-18 months of expected recovery time.

"That was my goal the whole time - to go out and pitch in September," said Strasburg, who claims to be returning better than before.

With him comes a revival of that goose-bumpy, every-five-days holiday that transcended baseball a year ago.

"It was kind of forced upon us. You couldn't turn on the TV," Nationals outfielder Jonny Gomes said. "I mean, you're talking about Good Morning America covering it. You couldn't help but buy into the hype."

Gomes watched the Strasburg phenomenon from afar in 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds, but he will have a front-and-center view of the 23-year-old righthander Tuesday.

Weather permitting. After months of rehabilitation, plus six minor-league starts with four teams in four states, Strasburg might have to wait a little longer. The forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain.

New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis took part in pregame drills Monday as he and the team try to determine whether surgery will be required to repair his left ankle.

Davis, on the disabled list since May 12 with a left ankle sprain and bone bruise, took ground balls and swings. He said the ankle pain had subsided.

Davis hit .302 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 36 games this season.

Mets lefthander Johan Santana was scheduled to throw in the bullpen Tuesday before pitching in a minor-league game Friday. He underwent surgery in September 2010 to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.

The Colorado Rockies recalled lefthander J.C. Romero and righthander Greg Reynolds from triple-A Colorado Springs.

Romero began the season with the Phillies before spending time in the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees organizations. The Rockies signed him after the Yankees released him Aug. 14.

Reynolds was 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in four games with Colorado in August.

- Associated Press