of other pitchers to suffer with the issue recen

WASHINGTON -- The Los Angeles Dodgers-Washington Nationals series will feature another matchup of a veteran starting pitcher against a promising rookie in the finale on Thursday afternoon.Stephen Strasburg (13-0, 2.51 ERA) will start for the Nationals against 19-year-old Dodgers lefty Julio Urias (1-2, 4.95).In the series opener Tuesday night, it was the Nationals who started a rookie, as right-hander Reynaldo Lopez made his big league debut and was tagged with the loss after he gave up 10 hits and fanned nine in 4 2/3 innings.Dodgers veteran Scott Kazmir threw seven innings of one-run ball that night, leading Los Angeles to an 8-4 victory. The Dodgers bounced back to beat the Nationals 8-1 Wednesday.Urias will be summoned from Triple-A for the start on Thursday -- just as Lopez was on Tuesday.It will be the third stint with the Dodgers this year for Urias and his ninth start. He made his last big league start on July 4 at home against the Baltimore Orioles and gave up five runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.He has struck out 44 and walked 17 in 36 1/3 this season at the big league level. With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he is 4-1 with a 1.07 ERA in nine games (seven starts), logging 45 strikeouts and just eight walks in 42 innings.Urias faced the Nationals on June 22 in Los Angeles, and he gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. He did not figure in the decision as the Dodgers won 4-3 while sweeping a three-game series.In that game, Urias struck out six and walked one while throwing 94 pitches.The Dodgers need Urias to step up to assist an ailing rotation. Ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw is on the disabled list due to a herniated back disk, and the timetable for his return is uncertain. Meanwhile, left-hander Alex Wood underwent an arthroscopic debridement on his left elbow Wednesday in New York City, and he is expected to miss eight weeks.Manager Dave Roberts said of possible surgery for Kershaw, I have not been told that. For me that is just logic. Surgery is more of a possibility ... the way his back responded (after throwing Saturday). We are certainly hopeful Clayton will be back. (He has) no shooting pain. He is trying to keep the focus on his teammates.As for Wood, who is 1-4 with a 3.99 ERA in 10 starts this year, Roberts said. He was pitching so well.The same can be said for Strasburg, the first National League starter since 1912 to begin a year 13-0.Strasburg was slated to pitch against the Dodgers and Kershaw in Los Angeles on June 20, but just before the game, he was pulled due to an upper back strain. He wound up on the disabled list before returning July 3.In his past four starts, Strasburg is 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA. He threw eight innings of one-run ball Friday in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.Hes been outstanding, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Friday. His record speaks for himself. It seems hes in the best shape of his life. We urged him to increase his work in between starts; it seems like it has paid off.Strasburg has made four career starts against the Dodgers, going 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA. Custom Nets Jersey China . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Nets Jerseys China . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. http://www.customnetsjersey.com/ . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Custom Drazen Petrovic Jersey . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Cheap Nets Jerseys . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. TORONTO -- Thoracic outlet syndrome has been ruled out for Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a right neck strain.The 30-year-old pitcher rejoined the team in Toronto after spending time with Dr. Robert Thompson, a vascular surgeon in St. Louis, while undergoing tests and treatment. Zimmermann said that the tests ruled out any nerve damage or vascular issues.Im just glad its not thoracic outlet syndrome, I guess, Zimmermann said before the Tigers game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.Zimmermann sounded relieved, and for good reason considering the rash of other pitchers to suffer with the issue recently. Most notably, Mets pitcher Matt Harvey recently informed the team he was electing to undergo season-ending surgery for TOS. Within the Tigers organization, Drew VerHagen was diagnosedd with the syndrome, though he is currently going through a throwing program that will hopefully allow him to avoid the surgical route.ddddddddddddZimmermann, who is 9-4 with a 3.95 ERA this season for the Tigers, said he will not pick up a ball for another three to four days. Because it has been almost a week since he has thrown last, Zimmermann said he imagines it could take some time for him to build his arm strength back up, but he does not anticipate a lengthy absence from the mound.Its hard to put a timeline on it, but hopefully Ill be back sooner than later, he said.The Tigers are currently without two of the five starters in their rotation; Daniel Norris is also on the disabled list with a right oblique injury. ' ' '