Hiram Moreno
Washington Nationals fans had better not celebrate too soon, as the team announced that its star pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, was placed back on the injured list after experiencing discomfort in a training bullpen session.
The news of Stephen Strasburg’s return to the starting rotation seemed like a light at the end of the tunnel for a team that ranks as the worst in MLB in terms of ERA (5.38) and average runs allowed per game (5.6).The pitcher’s first start after a year away from the mound was not his best, though, allowing 8 hits and 7 runs in 4.2 innings against the Miami Marlins.
Strasburg’s return to the disabled list was revealed by Washington Nationals manager, Dave Martinez, who also added that the player underwent an MRI on Monday, and the team is still awaiting the results of these tests. .
Surely the Washington Nationals will be worried not only about the player’s health and a possible prolonged absence due to the much-feared Tommy John surgery, but also because Stephen Strasburg has only appeared in eight games since signing a seven-year, $245 million deal in December 2019, and while the player has proven his quality when he’s at 100%, injuries keep him from being consistent.
Will This Change Anything in the Washington Nationals Season?
With or without Strasburg, everything seemed to indicate that little was going to change in the Washington Nationals’ season. The current perception is that the team could at best finish fourth in the NL East, with the Phillies, Mets and Braves far better than them.
With the departure of players such as Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, and others, the Nationals have begun a period of rebuilding that will undoubtedly last several seasons. However, the presence of Stephen Strasburg would surely not go down wrong, since he’s one of those old guard members who stays with the team, and his experience could help this new core of players.
