Nationals set Strasburg’s first start of 2011

Washington manager Davey Johnson confirmed plans for Stephen Strasburg to make his first 2011 start for the Nationals on Tuesday.

Strasburg will start for Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday. It is expected to be his final rehab appearance in his comeback from Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.

If all goes well, Strasburg will make his much-anticipated start at Washington against the Dodgers.

Johnson says he has “a spot open for him.”

Bonds’ sentencing set for December

Home run king Barry Bonds will be back in federal court on Dec. 16 to be sentenced for his felony obstruction of justice conviction.

A jury convicted Bonds in April of giving an evasive, rambling reply when asked whether he received drugs that required a syringe. Jurors couldn’t unanimously decide three other perjury charges alleging that Bonds lied to the grand jury when he denied knowingly taking human growth hormone, steroids and receiving injections from anyone but his doctor.

His conviction carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison, yet federal guidelines call for 15-21 months.

Clearing the bases

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says he’d like to return to the club in 2012 and that he’d do so only if given a contract extension. Guillen has one year left on his contract beyond this season. … Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin joined the Rangers, his promotion to the major leagues coming only a year and two days after he defected. Texas recalled Martin from Triple-A Round Rock after placing Nelson Cruz on the 15-day disabled list. … Marlins third baseman Greg Dobbs visited 12-year-old Eli Shalomoff, who was hit in the face by a line drive Monday during a game between Florida and the Mets, at the hospital. Dobbs said the boy, who was released later Tuesday, is doing OK. … A former payroll manager for the Giants has been arrested on federal charges associated with embezzling more than $1.5 million from the baseball club’s employees, including players. Robin O’Connor was confronted by the team in July and acknowledged diverting more than $600,000 from two Giants employees. The affidavit states that the club immediately fired her.