Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is dealing with a strained flexor mass in his right elbow but his UCL is intact, trainer Paul Lessard said Thursday.?Strasburg had an MRI on the elbow earlier Thursday, one day after leaving a start in the third inning.?Lessard said the injury is not necessarily season-ending but offered no timetable for Strasburgs return.?Im thinking lets take care of the swelling and get him to a pain-free range of motion, and then well start a strengthening program, Lessard said. Im just worried about the next four or five days right now.?Strasburg felt a pinch in the back of his elbow Wednesday night, and was forced to make an early exit in his first start since returning from the disabled list.?Unfortunately, it just happened on one pitch, Lessard said. Its just an acute injury vs. an overuse injury.Strasburg previously had been out since Aug. 17 because of soreness in his right elbow. He left Wednesdays start after 2 1/3 innings and 42 pitches, allowing a run on two hits, before NL East-leading Washington went on to defeat Atlanta 5-4 in 11 innings.Before going on the disabled list, Strasburg allowed 19 runs over his final three starts, including nine over 1 2/3 innings in a loss to Colorado his last time out. In his first 17 starts, he was 13-0 with a 2.51 ERA.It was Strasburgs second stint on the disabled list this season. The right-hander missed 17 games in June with an upper back strain.After he exited Wednesday, fears were that Strasburg would need a second Tommy John surgery after having the procedure in 2010.?Its good to hear it wasnt what everybody was speculating, manager Dusty Baker said Thursday.Waiting on news is always nerve-racking. You should have been with me waiting on news that I had cancer ... toughest part of my cancer was the three-month checkup, six-month checkup. Waiting on news is not very pleasant.Strasburg signed a seven-year extension worth $175 million in May. He had an MRI before inking that deal, and Lessard said Thursday that Strasburgs elbow looks basically the same as it did then.?The Nationals entered Thursday night with an 8?-game lead over the Mets in the NL East.?Asked who will take Strasburgs spot in the rotation, Baker said the team hadnt decided yet.We have the personnel that we have, he said. You cant count on somebody else coming in here. So we have to the best for the situation with what we have and then make a determination on who is to take his place now and possibly later or is it a better option to not have Stephen or do we not count Stephen out? Those are our options, and the Lord knows and can heal Stephen with the help of our trainers and doctors.Information from ESPNs Eddie Matz and The Associated Press was used in this report. Chandler Hutchison Bulls Jersey . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Scottie Pippen Bulls Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.officialbullsfanstore.com/kids-antonio-blakeney-bulls-jersey/ . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Kris Dunn Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Zach LaVine Jersey . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters.Crabbies Grand National contender Black Thunder will be put up for auction before the great race at Aintree on Saturday week. The nine-year-old could be running in different silks in the National as he will appear in the catalogue of the Goffs UK Aintree Sale after racing next Thursday.Trainer Paul Nicholls told the Daily Mail: If anyone wants a Grand National winner he is going to the sale at Aintree. I havent booked anyone to ride him yet but have a couple of posssible jockeys lined up.ddddddddddddBlack Thunder, winner of four of his 13 starts over fences, is available at odds of 50/1 with Sky Bet, who are paying five places, about winning the National for Nicholls, who struck with Neptune Collonges in 2012. Sky Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you ' ' '