Nationals Plan to Pitch Stephen Strasburg in Relief During NL Wild Card Game
By Jerry Trotta
As if Tuesday night's NL Wild Card Game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals needed any more captivating storylines, right?
Max Scherzer is getting the ball tonight for the Nats, but, should he run into trouble, Washington's gameplan is to utilize Stephen Strasburg straightaway out of the bullpen.
Even if Scherz coasts through the Brewers lineup, Strasburg is still reportedly set to replace the right-hander in or following whichever inning he departs, despite the fact that he last pitched in relief back in college.
#Nationals plan is to pitch Stephen Strasburg after Max Scherzer in whatever inning is appropriate. Strasburg last relief performance his freshman year in college. Brent Suter expected to follow Brandon Woodruff for the #Brewers. #NLWildCard
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) October 1, 2019
The Nats are renowned to choke in the postseason in recent years. What better way to improve their odds to rewrite that narrative then send out your two best arms to get the job done in a win-or-go-home showdown?
It is worth noting, however, that Scherzer didn't personify his usual world-beating self in the final month of the 2019 season, logging a 5.16 ERA across 29.2 innings.
Before everyone buries the #Brewers against Max Scherzer, in his last 5 starts:
— Tim Muma (@Tim_Muma) September 29, 2019
29.2 innings
5.16 ERA
.725 Opponent OPS
26 hits allowed
6 HRs
Regardless, the Nats surely wouldn't want any other pitcher in baseball taking the bump tonight, and having Strasburg set to enter right behind his ace should have manager Dave Martinez feeling THAT much more comfortable.
The Nats are all-in on this game, as they should be, and it'll be interesting to see what other tactics Martinez pulls out in order to advance.