What will it take for the Nationals to stage a comeback?

2. Strasburg builds his playoff legend

We’ll never be able to know how the Nationals trip to the 2012 postseason would have played out if Stephen Strasburg had been allowed to pitch. Washington’s brass made the controversial decision to hold the then-24-year-old ace out of the playoffs in his first full season back from Tommy John. The Nationals were forced to start Edwin Jackson in Game 3, where they were blown out 8-0.

Judging by how well Strasburg has pitched in the three trips to the playoffs where the Nationals allowed him to perform, it’s a safe bet that his inclusion on the 2012 NLDS roster would have produced a different outcome for the franchise, which has still not won a playoff series. Strasburg has pitched 28 innings in the playoffs and has a 0.64 ERA, has not allowed a home run, has struck out 38 and has a nearly 10:1 strikeout-to-walk-ratio.

Had the Nationals, you know, won a playoff series by now, Strasburg’s reputation as a stone-cold postseason killer would likely rival Madison Bumgarner‘s. He was instrumental in keeping the Nationals in the Wild Card Game after Max Scherzer labored through five innings, striking out four in three shutout innings. He then returned in Game 2 against the Dodgers to strike out 10 in six innings, allowing a run on three hits and no walks.

Strasburg will be slated to pitch the decisive Game 5 if the series gets that far, and he will have a shot at his first real defining playoff moment. Who knows if the Nationals decision to shut him down in 2012 ultimately prevented injury, but Strasburg has had a damn good 10 years in the big leagues so far and might just be getting better.