With the news that Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is heading back to the injured list following his first start of the 2022 season, one has to wonder exactly what the future holds for the 33-year-old right-hander.
What does the latest injury news mean for Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals?
According to a tweet from Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post, the Washington Nationals will put Strasburg on the 15-day injured list prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves. In an article on MLB.com, Strasburg reportedly told the team that “he didn’t feel right” during his June 9 start in Miami, an outing where he gave up seven runs and eight hits while walking two in just 4.2 innings (83 pitches).
Strasburg has already undergone an MRI and the results will determine exactly what is next for him in a string of injuries that has limited him to just eight starts and 31.1 innings over the past three seasons. Additionally, when Strasburg has been on the mound during that span, he hasn’t been crisp, throwing to a 6.89 ERA/5.69 FIP/1.564 WHIP.
The top overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft, Strasburg has already helped the Nationals to a World Series win, posting a 2.51 ERA in his two starts during the 2019 Fall Classic on his way to earning Most Valuable Player honors. However, since then, the news has been anything but positive for Strasburg, who inked a seven-year, $245 million deal shortly after the World Series that lasts through the 2026 season.
With that kind of investment, the Nationals want to do everything they can to get Strasburg back to a high level on the mound. However, time is ticking on that possibility, especially if Monday’s MRI brings bad news.
When will Strasburg be able to once again make a difference for the Nationals, and how likely is it that Strasburg can return to form? Those are two big questions looming in Washington as just how big of a role Strasburg will play in the future of the franchise seems in question.