Strasburg expected to return shortly after All-Star break

As the Washington Nationals continue to slide down the standings, manager Dave Martinez had some good news to announce Thursday prior to his club taking on the Miami Marlins.

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is close to returning to action and is expected to make his comeback shortly after the All-Star break.

"We want to make sure that (Strasburg)'s 100 percent," Martinez explained, according to MLB.com's Jamal Collier. "That there's no setbacks."

Strasburg hasn't appeared in a game since June 8 when he was forced to leave with what was later diagnosed as right shoulder inflammation.

The 29-year-old has since thrown three bullpen sessions, with his most recent coming Tuesday. He could start a rehab assignment as soon as next week.

Washington's rotation has struggled without the hard-throwing righty, tying the Marlins for the NL's worst ERA in June.

Before going on the DL, Strasburg was 6-6 with a 3.46 ERA and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 13 starts.