Last week, I took a look at Stephen Strasburg’s final rehab start. On Wednesday, Strasburg made his first start in the majors in a year against the Dodgers. The results were encouraging for Strasburg, the Nationals, and Nats fans alike. Strasburg threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, not walking a batter, and striking out four. He threw just 56 pitches, 40 of which went for strikes. Of those 40 strikes, six of them were swinging. It’s not a perfect return, but it’s pretty damn good for a guy who is on the fast track to recovery from Tommy John surgery. Sure, the Nationals ended up losing the game 7-3, but that wasn’t the story in DC. The story was Strasburg’s successful return to the hill for a team that really needs him to be at full strength at the start of the 2012 campaign if they want to make waves in the ultra-competitive NL East.
Around the League…Boston waxed Toronto, but Dustin McGowan had a successful return to the mound…CJ Wilson threw a five hit shutout against the Rays…Kyle Lohse and the Cardinals continue to make a late push for a playoff berth…the Tigers pushed the Indians even further out of a playoff spot
Tomorrow’s Matchups…a battle of Justins in Cleveland, with Verlander taking on Masterson…Zack Greinke and Chris Carpenter battle in a duel of former Cy Young winners…Johnny Cueto looks to hang onto his ERA lead against Ryan Dempster….Brandon Beachy and Roy Oswalt will go at it as a pair of playoff teams play a meaningless game
Enjoy the games, everyone
