Stephen Strasburg’s carpal tunnel is the final nail in the Nationals’ coffin

Stephen Strasburg might not pitch again in 2020.

The Washington Nationals’ championship hangover has relegated them near the bottom of the NL East, as the loss of Anthony Rendon appears to have been much for Juan Soto and the defending champs to overcome. Their sterling rotation now also appears destined for a major regression, as stud starter Stephen Strasburg might not pitch in the rest of 2020 due to a nasty forearm injury.

Strasburg is reportedly dealing with carpal tunnel in his right arm, which has Dave Martinez and the Nationals contemplating if he should get the injury surgically repaired.

Stephen Strasburg is coming off a tremendous season during the title-winning campaign of 2019

Strasburg has a 10.80 ERA this season, as he was only able to muster five innings over the course of two starts. In 2019, the former No. 1 overall pick out of San Diego State led the NL with 18 wins and 209 innings pitched while posting a 3.32 ERA as he and Max Scherzer teamed up to get the Nationals their first World Series victory. He was rewarded with a seven-year deal worth $225 million, and injuries prevented him from truly earning his pay this year.

While his injuries in the first year of a massive seven-year deal have to worry both Nationals fans and executives alike, Strasburg capping off a decade of stardom with the Nationals by helping the franchise win their first-ever championship will more than make up for one truncated season in which injuries sidelined him.

The Nationals might want to get Strasburg back as soon as possible to help push them into the postseason, but the best course of action for the future of this franchise is to let Strasburg sit out the rest of the season while he works his way back to full health. Rushing him back from such a serious injury for a pitcher could have dire consequences.