BALTIMORE -- Stephen Strasburg's weary right elbow was stiff and in dire need of some rest, so the Washington Nationals put their winningest pitcher on the 15-day disabled list Monday.
The right-hander was willing to pitch through the pain for the NL East-leading Nationals, but manager Dusty Baker had other plans.
"I told him we hadn't won anything yet and that we had to look at the big picture," Baker said. "Hopefully he'll be good in September and hopefully in October."
Baker expected Strasburg (15-3, 3.59 ERA) to spend the minimum amount of time on the DL.
"He knows how bad we need him to pitch," the manager said. "I had to explain to him that it's not hero time."
Asked if he considered it to be a precautionary move, Strasburg replied, "One hundred percent."
After bolting to a 15-1 start this season, Strasburg was 0-3 with a 14.66 ERA over his past three outings.
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"The recovery after each start started to get a little bit more difficult," the 28-year-old said. "I felt like I was losing range of motion and wasn't able to get that back in between starts. I am trying to make it better than it ever was, I guess, and hopefully that will translate into good performance down the road."
Strasburg missed 17 games from June 19 to July 3 while on the disabled list with an upper-back strain. He hoped to avoid another trip to the DL, but Baker decided it was the right thing to do.
"I feel as a pitcher, a competitor, as long as it's good enough you think you can just go out there and pitch," Strasburg said. "I wanted to go out there and give it a go."
His performance recently suggested it was better just to take a seat for a couple of weeks or so.
"He came to us and we made the decision for him," Baker said.
Strasburg's right elbow has been a concern of the team -- and the pitcher -- ever since he underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in September 2010.
"Being a Tommy John guy, getting through the grind of a season there is just a little more maintenance that has to go with it," he said.
Strasburg said he might change his regimen between starts, opting to work less with weights and more on flexibility.
"Your arm works a little bit differently when you do have surgery like that," he said.
Strasburg was scheduled to start Monday night at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles. Washington recalled righty A.J. Cole to start in his place.
Mets: Starter Steven Matz to 15-day DL
NEW YORK -- The New York Mets have placed left-handed pitcher Steven Matz on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 15, with shoulder tightness.
The Mets say the rookie underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed no structural damage to his shoulder.
Matz was scratched from his Friday start. He had taken a no-hitter into the eighth against San Diego in his last start, when he was removed after 105 pitches.
Matz is 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA. He joins Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler among New York's heralded young pitchers on the DL.
The Mets recalled right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman from Triple-A Las Vegas.
The 23-year-old Gsellman opened the season with Double-A Binghamton and went 3-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 11 starts before being promoted to Las Vegas. In nine starts for the 51s, Gsellman is 1-5 with a 5.73 ERA.
Pirates: Team signs infielder David Freese to contract extension
PITTSBURGH -- Pirates infielder David Freese has signed a two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2018 season.
The deal announced Monday includes a club option for 2019. Terms of the extension were not immediately available.
Freese said, "It's always good to be wanted and the Pirates made that clear when they offered the extension.
The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $3 million contract as a free agent in March and is hitting .276 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 107 games. The eight-year veteran has made 58 starts at third base and 26 at first base.
Freese could have become eligible for free agency again after the conclusion of the World Series.
Freese broke into the major leagues in 2009 with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals and was the NLCS and World Series MVP in 2011. He then was traded to the Los Angeles Angels after the 2013 season and play with them for two seasons.
Rangers: Texas clears one spot for Derek Holland return
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have cleared a spot on their active roster for Derek Holland to make his first start in two months, but they still have to make another move before the left-hander pitches Tuesday at Cincinnati.
While the Rangers were off Monday, the team optioned right-hander Nick Martinez to Triple-A Round Rock.
The Rangers will have to make a corresponding move on their 40-man roster before Tuesday's game for Holland, who has been on the 60-day disabled list because of left shoulder inflammation. His last start for Texas was June 20.
Holland is 5-5 with a 5.20 ERA in 14 starts for the Rangers this season.
Martinez is 1-3 with a 7.16 ERA in eight games over four starts with Texas.