Stephen Strasburg to Face Innings Limit in 2012

The Washington Nationals have announced that starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg will be placed on an innings limit during the 2012 season.  Washington has yet to confirm an exact number, but did say they would be closely monitoring Strasburg’s total next year.

General manager Mike Rizzo told reporters that he already has an idea in his mind of what Strasburg’s innings limit will look like.  Rizzo has spoken with Nationals training staff and pitching coaches to formulate his calculations.  The club is still waiting to see how Strasburg feels after the season to finalize any type of count.

Washington has confirmed that Strasburg will not be pitching in the Arizona Fall League or Instructional League.  Strasburg will be done following the end of the regular season.  He is scheduled to pitch in the Nationals season finale next Wednesday.

So far this season, Strasburg has logged a total of 38.1 innings.  20.1 of those came while Strasburg was on his Minor League rehab assignment.  During his six starts in the Nationals farm system, Strasburg allowed eight runs on 14 hits while striking out 29 and walking three.

Strasburg has also pitched 18 innings for the Nationals so far this season.  The right-hander has only allowed four earned runs on 14 hits over that span, walking none and striking out 14.  His performance has earned Strasburg an ERA of 2.00 to go with his miniscule 0.778 WHIP.

Limiting a young pitcher’s innings will be nothing new for the Nationals.  This season, Washington restricted Jordan Zimmermann’s total after the righty missed most of the 2010 season to injury.  Zimmermann was shut down earlier this year after logging just over 160 frames.

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