Washington Nationals: Strasburg Close To Return After Good Bullpen
By Ron Juckett
Stephen Strasburg‘s pain-free bullpen session Friday means he is closer to coming off the disabled list and starting for the Washington Nationals.
The Washington Nationals received good news before their Friday night win over the New York Mets as injured pitcher Stephen Strasburg tossed a pain-free bullpen session.
A sore right elbow, never a good thing, placed the hurler on the disabled list on August 22. Before that, in 23 starts, Strasburg was 15-4 on the year with an ERA of 3.59 and 179 strikeouts in 145.1 innings.
The two-time All-Star dropped his last three starts, including a nine-run drubbing in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. In 1.2 innings, he allowed nine hits and three walks in a 71-pitch effort that landed him on the DL. The start was so bad; it raised his ERA over half a run.
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With a playoff spot all but secured the key now this month is to give Strasburg enough work to be ready for the postseason. The elbow injury marks the third time he has spent time on the disabled list in his career. He missed nearly all of 2011 recovering from Tommy John surgery and a chunk of last year with neck problems. Deadly accurate when healthy, the Nationals have to walk the fine line between his health and their success the rest of the way.
With Joe Ross still injured with a sore right shoulder, the Nats are likely one starter short right now for their playoff four-man rotation. Again, Max Scherzer is lights out, fanning 238 and posting a WHIP OF 0.911. Tanner Roark has won 14 games with an ERA of 2.87. Gio Gonzalez has solved issues plaguing him earlier this summer and won his last four decisions. His ERA has dropped from 4.81 on June 30 to 4.14 now. Getting Strasburg back in the fold makes Washington a stronger threat next month.
Once activated, there will be no minor league rehab starts for him. Those seasons end this week and Strasburg’s absence was only a couple weeks. As long as the elbow stays pain-free then he will be good to go.
Signed to a seven-year contract extension earlier this season, we know where he will pitch the prime years of his career. Still, an elbow injury after going through one major surgery is a scary proposition for both Washington and Strasburg.
When he is healthy, Strasburg is in the top tier of starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. His power and control makes him flat-out filthy. With now a pattern of injuries, how he stays healthy taking a heavy load will be the concern.