TODAY: Strasburg has officially been reinstated from the 10-day IL, the Nationals announced. Right-hander Kyle McGowin was optioned to Triple-A to make roster space.
MAY 20: The Nationals are planning to reinstate Stephen Strasburg from the injured list to start tomorrow’s game against the Orioles, manager Dave Martinez told reporters (including Maria Torres of the Athletic). It’ll be Strasburg’s first appearance in just over a month, as he went on the IL April 18 with right shoulder inflammation.
Washington is surely thrilled to get Strasburg back to action. The star righty helped lead the Nats to a World Series title in 2019, and the organization retained him on a seven-year, $245MM contract that offseason. Unfortunately, Strasburg has thus far only managed four starts since then. A bout with carpal tunnel syndrome limited him to five innings last season, and this spring’s shoulder problem has kept him to ten frames in 2021.
The Nationals have struggled over the season’s first month-plus. Set back by an early COVID-19 outbreak, Washington climbed back to briefly take first place in the NL East. They’ve scuffled over the past few weeks, though, dropping to the bottom of the division at 17-23. The Nationals rotation has been a little below-average this season, sitting 18th in each of ERA (4.41), SIERA (4.19) and strikeout minus walk rate (14.7 percentage points). That’s a disappointment for a starting staff that was expected to be the backbone of the club.
With Strasburg out, the Nationals added Erick Fedde to the rotation. Fedde has pitched reasonably well, working to a 4.35 ERA/4.58 SIERA in eight starts. Strasburg’s return might eventually bump him to the bullpen, but Fedde will be out of action for the next few days after testing positive for COVID-19.
Glad to see Strasburg back but this was an ill advised contract they signed him too. The guy gets hurt way too much to pay him $35M/Yr for 7 years. It would have been smarter to use that money for Rendon. I have a feeling this deal will end up being worse than the Boston deal with David Price.
Seems like every team that wins a WS pays a hero tax to keep some player who came up big for them in town. Strasburg, Eovaldi, Verlander, etc.
You forgot Sale!
You’re right about rather having Rendon over Strasburg, but I don’t think Rendon had any intention of resigning with Washington
Absolute correct, while Stras was the exact opposite, relative to wanting to stay in Washington.
Rendon has had 2 trips to the IL with the Angels so far this season.
is this a copy of the Hamlin post?
Hey Hamlin I like your PJs
did they delete it 🙁
Interesting. BTV has him as the second most untradeable player in baseball with Giancarlo Stanton at #1. And then Felipe Vazquez is in a category of his own I guess.
Don’t worry, everyone, don’t worry. That’s not a tornado. That’s the collective breath of every Nationals fan being drawn at once. =}
Always exciting to watch Strasburg pitch inbetween his IL stints.
One week later…
Strasburg activated from the DL.
Is now on a strict 10 pitch/pitch count per game for the year.
Overrated and balsa-wood built.
He isn’t over-rated, he just gets hurt virtually every year. He usually is great…when he plays.