2:23 pm: Fortunately, it seems there’s not much cause for concern. Strasburg felt some discomfort in his left calf but says the issue is “nothing major” (via Dougherty). “It’s not something that’s going to require any sort (of) long-term recovery. It’s definitely good news. So day-to-day,” Strasburg added.
1:23 pm: Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg left his Spring Training outing early this afternoon, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post was among those to note (video provided by Alex Fast of Pitcher List). He appeared to show discomfort in his lower half.
There’s no indication at this point the issue is particularly serious. A return to form from Strasburg is key to the Nats’ hopes of contending in the NL East in 2021. After shining in the regular season between 2017-19, he took his game to new heights in the 2019 playoffs, helping Washington to a championship and winning World Series MVP honors. Unfortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome limited Strasburg to just five innings over two starts in 2020.
The Nationals are hoping for Strasburg to join Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Jon Lester in the season-opening rotation. The fifth spot remains undecided between Joe Ross and Erick Fedde, although Ross appears to have the inside track.
Great pitcher but seems to be hurt frequently.
IMO this is the worst contract in all of baseball. I was shocked when Strasburg opted out and even more shocked when the Nats extended him. I figured they would have quit while they were ahead with him and just used that extra money to keep Rendon. They could have easily used that money to sign a top free agent like Realmuto or Springer this offseason. Those guys would be way more productive. I would trade Stras straight up for those either of guys and never look back. The fact they would save $100 million in the process is just a bonus. I don’t think Stras will ever come close to replicating 2019 again. I bet the Nats don’t even keep him if they hadn’t won it all. This guys injury history is brutal. Of the $245 million they paid Stras my guess is they will get maybe $45 million in production. That’s about $200 million down the drain. The fact that this guy is one of the highest paid players in MLB history is crazy to me.
Guillorme just had a 22 pitch atbat against Hicks. Ended up walking, Classic.
yeah and again this is why I’m not confident in this team. they need Stras healthy to have any shot this year and that’s…not a safe assumption.
Damn that contract is not aging well. I thought it was probably the best of the three big pitcher contracts last year in Cole and Ryu but so far it’s not looking too good.
Ryu’s contact is three and four times less than Stras/Cole’s deals. Ryu’s ERA+ since 2018 has been fantastic. Sure, there was and is some risk, but nothing compared to the others in terms of dollars invested. I’d take his deal even over Cole’s everyday and twice on Sunday.
Should have given the money to Rendon. As good as a pitcher as Stras is, and he is, his ability to be counted on for 30+ starts a year and post season is not even a 50/50 shot.
The suggestion that the Nats shouldve given the Big $$ to Rendon instead of Strasburg is nonsense. They offered BOTH players big money. Rendon wanted to play out west anyway.
Prior to his opt out, all of the Monday morning QB’s on here conveniently forget that Strasburg had just won the World Series MVP by carrying that team on his back by putting up the first 5-0 in October baseball and coming in from the ‘pen, too.
If The Nats didnt re-sign him, the same doubters wouldve cried a river about it.
Let’s face it, the haters wouldve punted on Strasburg years and years ago, and then The Nats would have no World Series ring to show for it…..Ahh Monday morning QB’ing. So easy.
WHY CAN’T THIS MAN JUST STAY HEALTHY!!!
I feel so sorry for the guy, he’d be a perennial all-star if he stayed healthy, but he just can’t. The injury bug bites him, and it bites hard. Good luck Stras.
He’d be a slam dunk 1st ballot HoFer if he was healthy
One of the best big game pitchers I’ve ever seen
He won’t hes not
That new deal is not aging well at all.
Should’ve resigned Rendon and most people knew it.
The Nats season is absolutely dependent on the health of Stras and Max. This is not a great sign. Hope it’s minor.
Shocked!
Oblique, he should use the rubber band training/stretching regimen tb12 uses for sure.
You don’t get swole with pilates, bro.
What else is new? Giving Strasburg the money instead of Rendon was foolish at the time and it gets even worse now.
It was so obvious the Nats needed to pick rendon. Horrible mistake.
You guys are crazy. Look at his stats. Last year and 2011 were the only years he missed the majority of the season. Yes he has nagging injuries and misses some games now and then, but has never pitched less than 22 games in a season over the last ten years ( not counting 2020) and is still easily a top 20 pitcher in the league.
You can’t be serious. Your GS numbers might be correct, but the dude is hurt all the time. It’s like a known thing. Don’t try to tell us the sky ain’t blue. Dude is a beast when he’s on, though, I will agree with you there.
He hasn’t had a major injury in a while if you take away the carpel tunnel away, but once a year he will have a small injury that cost him 2-3 starts.
All I’m saying is that he has a recurring issue with yearly DL stints, and I think you agree. So it’s all good. It sucks. As a Phillies fan I’m fine seeing him pitch against them less, however it’s always good for baseball when the best players are out there playing. Hopefully he recovers quickly and does well- except for all his games against Philly lol
I’m a Nats fan so I hope he does do well lol. Lets make a deal, Nola and Strasburg only do ok against the Nats and Phils. Not terrible or else there stats will blow up and we don;t want that, but meh outings.
i wouldnt take that because Stras wolnt be healthy enough to make an even number of starts vs us.
Dam that’s cold……
Yeah but those recent years of 22,23,24 starts means he’s missing almost 2 months each season.. that hurts a team… another way to look at it is he’s only had one season with 30+ starts since 2014… not good for a guy paid like a near ace
He went 5-0 in October ’19, won World Series MVP, and every player on that team has a ring forever. “That hurts a team”. Uh huh.
How and why he had his baby cow out on the ball field, remains a mystery…….
Oh please, Strasburg has been day-to-day since he came out of the womb.
In the slightly misquoted words of Marv Albert: “He’s day to day… but then again, aren’t we all?”
Thought you were going somewhere else with that for a sec
Uh oh spaghetti oh
Is anybody really surprised? Shows you that ALL contracts should be incentive based. Make these light weight cry babies actually earn their money. Just wondering, is Strasburg related to Aaron Judge in any way or maybe they drink from the same water supply?
Hopefully this isn’t anything major but it still makes me wish the Lerner’s would’ve gave the big contract to Rendon over Stras. Tired of constantly holding my breath when Stras pitches..