Joe Nathan, 41, to try comeback

Joe Nathan is attempting to come back from a second Tommy John surgery at the age of 41 to pursue the biggest item missing from his resume.

“A world championship,” Nathan said Friday while sitting in the dugout of the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ double-A affiliate. “World Series — the biggest motivator.”

The six-time All-Star reliever pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts Thursday in his Smokies debut, the first time he had taken the mound in a regular-season game of any sort since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in April 2015. Nathan signed with the Cubs last month and says he’s eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list July 16.

Strasburg OK

Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg (10-0) will start Sunday against Milwaukee after skipping his last scheduled appearance, a showdown against Clayton Kershaw, because of an upper back strain.