ATLANTA — Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg has a strained muscle on his right side and will return to Washington on Saturday to be examined by the team’s medical staff.

Strasburg lasted just two innings — the shortest start of his career — in the Nationals’ 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

The right-hander grimaced after throwing a changeup to Brian McCann, the sixth batter he faced, with one out in the second inning.

Strasburg retired McCann on a grounder and struck out Dan Uggla to end the inning.

Craig Stammen relieved Strasburg to begin the third. He allowed two hits and one run — a homer by Freddie Freeman — with no walks and two strikeouts.

Strasburg threw 23 of 37 pitches for strikes.