Strasburg placed on 15-day DL

CINCINNATI -- A day after pitching one-plus innings against the Reds, Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was placed on the disabled list because of what the team termed neck tightness. Nationals manager Matt Williams cited back issues.

In Friday's 5-2 loss to the Reds, Strasburg left because of neck muscle tightness. Strasburg is on his way to Washington and will see the team doctor Monday.

Video: WSH@CIN: Strasburg, Williams discuss neck injury

"We have to get to the bottom of what's going on," Williams said. It's perplexing. It's not anything you can point to. We have to get this thing worked out so he can be back in 15 days."

After Strasburg allowed a leadoff walk to Brayan Pena in the second inning, Williams, pitching coach Steve McCatty and the team's head athletic trainer went to the mound. Strasburg did not throw another pitch; he was removed by Williams and replaced by Taylor Jordan, who was in the restroom when he received word that he would be entering the game.

Strasburg allowed one run on two hits in his one-plus innings. The one run scored on Joey Votto's solo home run. The pitch on the home run was clocked at 97 mph.

Video: WSH@CIN: Votto opens the scoring with a solo homer

This is Strasburg's second injury scare this season. On May 5, against the Marlins, he exited after three innings because of tightness in his back, but he never missed a start. The Nationals blamed the back problems because of bad mechanics. Strasburg missed most of the 2011 season following Tommy John surgery.

Strasburg is off to slow start this season. In 10 starts, he is 3-5 with a 6.55 ERA.

With Strasburg on the DL, the Nationals have called up Taylor Hill, who will be a long man out of the bullpen.