The Washington Nationals will again be without starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg should they advance to the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been ruled out of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs should his team advance, according to Britt McHenry of ESPN.
Dusty Baker just said Stephen Strasburg will not be available should they advance to NLCS
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) October 13, 2016
Strasburg has been out since since September 7 with a flexor mass strain in his right elbow. That particular injury came in Strasburg’s first start off the disabled list for right elbow soreness, and he also missed some time in June with a back problem.
The 28-year old progressed enough to throw a bullpen session two days ago, but it was cut short due to discomfort in his elbow, leading manager Dusty Baker to confirm that Strasburg wouldn’t be available for the NLCS on Thursday. Given that Strasburg hasn’t pitched in a month, the best the Nationals were probably hoping for was for him to appear in a relief role anyway.
When healthy, Strasburg is a legitimate front line starter who could help Washington match the Cubs’ strength at the top of the rotation. Strasburg owns a 3.60 ERA (2.92 FIP) with 193 strikeouts in 147.2 innings across 24 games this season.
Unfortunately, injuries are coming to define Strasburg’s career more than anything else. Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010 and has now missed significant chunks of the past two seasons. The Nationals gambled on Strasburg’s elbow earlier in the season by giving him a seven-year, $175 million contract extension.
Without Strasburg, the Nationals will turn to Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark and Joe Ross in the rotation. Not helping matters is the fact that Ross hasn’t looked quite right since returning from a lengthy shoulder injury in late September.
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Of course, the Nationals have to win NLDS Game 5 on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin thinking about the next round. Washington will have Scherzer on the mound, while the Dodgers will counter with Rich Hill on short rest.