ATLANTA -- Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is showing signs that his arm is feeling better. He was playing catch with the team's trainer on flat ground for about five minutes on Saturday."The trainers] told me yesterday that [Strasburg] was beginning exercises and he was coming along fine, as far as

ATLANTA -- Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is showing signs that his arm is feeling better. He was playing catch with the team's trainer on flat ground for about five minutes on Saturday.

"[The trainers] told me yesterday that [Strasburg] was beginning exercises and he was coming along fine, as far as I know," manager Dusty Baker said.

Strasburg strained his flexor mass in his right arm against the Braves on Sept. 7. After he struck out Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz for the first out of the third inning, Nationals trainer Paul Lessard and pitching coach Mike Maddux went to the mound to check on the right-hander. Lessard then summoned Baker to come to the mound. Baker called it "a long walk" to check on Strasburg.

A few minutes later, Strasburg left the game and was replaced by left-hander Sean Burnett . Strasburg allowed one run on two hits over 2 1/3 innings.

Strasburg said last week he wasn't sure if he was going to participate in the postseason. He needed the swelling in the flexor mass to go down first.