Stephen Strasburg ready to throw off a mound “any day”

Stephen Strasburg had a routine checkup on his surgically repaired elbow Tuesday and general manager Mike Rizzo told Bill Ladson of MLB.com that the rehabbing right-hander will be cleared to throw off a mound “any day.”

Strasburg hasn’t taken the mound since last August and underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in September, which means he’ll need to make a very speedy recovery to pitch for the Nationals at any point this season.

Returning for a few innings in September hasn’t been ruled out yet--as opposed to Bryce Harper debuting in September, which Rizzo ruled out yesterday--but obviously the big-picture goal is for Strasburg to be fully healthy and ready to go for Opening Day of next year.