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Vintage Stephen Strasburg what Nationals will need down stretch

By Michael Natelli

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Outside of a mistake to Nolan Arenado, Stephen Strasburg gave up just two hits in seven innings for the Nationals on Saturday. He struck out 12 batters and issued no walks, and the casual spectator probably didn’t remember he hadn’t made a big-league start since July 4.

Strasburg left that start against the Giants with the oblique strain that has sidelined him since, and he’s gone seven innings just twice all season prior to Saturday. Neck and back issues had plagued Strasburg all season prior to his oblique strain, and he averaged just 4.2 innings per start coming into Saturday’s game.

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But Strasburg looked like the pitcher his name and star presence are associated with against the Rockies on Saturday. And boy did the Nationals need that one. Doug Fister was recently demoted to a bullpen role after struggling with consistency all season, so a healthy and productive Strasburg could be exactly what the Nationals need to get back in the fight with the Mets for the division title.

Washington seemed reliant on the returns of Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman to be their spark, but Werth has struggled heavily since his return and Zimmerman hasn’t been that much better. While their locker room presence may be boosting team morale some, it hasn’t shown on the field. And the Nationals need something to rally around. Why not Strasburg?

For as much hype and media coverage as Strasburg has gotten since being drafted, he’s never truly lived up to the potential he seemed to have. He’s been more than capable of having an outstanding night from time to time, but it’s hardly justified placing him in baseball’s top tier of pitchers amongst the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Washington teammate Max Scherzer and others. He has the “stuff” and perhaps the potential to be like those pitchers, but Strasburg is 27 and almost through his contract with Washington with not that much to show for it.

This isn’t an attempt to rip Strasburg as a pitcher, but a dominant stretch by an at-times dominant pitcher is exactly what the Nationals need to get back in the hunt for the division crown.

If Scherzer and Strasburg can lock down the top of the rotation, Joe Ross can continue his surprisingly dominant rookie campaign, Gio Gonzalez can keep his strong stretch going and Jordan Zimmermann can become more consistent, the Nationals can win on pitching alone. It may not be the “five aces” rotation that was hyped up as one of the best in baseball history, but that’s a starting five that can compete with any in baseball if Strasburg’s healthy and efficient.

Washington is still mathematically in the Wild Card hunt, but it appears that the Pirates, Cubs and Giants will be duking it out for the two spots. If the Nationals want to be playing in October, more likely than not they’ll need an NL East crown to get there. And it appears that their chances of getting there ride a fair amount on Strasburg.

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