Prized pitcher will start next Tuesday vs. Pirates
The Washington Nationals announced Sunday that prized pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg will make his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8 at Nationals Park.
Strasburg, the No. 1 selection in last year’s draft, is 3-1 with a 1.27 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Syracuse. He is scheduled to make his final minor league start Thursday at Buffalo. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told mlb.com that the 21-year-old right-hander will throw six innings, or 95 pitches.
“We believe he is ready to go,” Rizzo said. “We like that Stephen could bounce back from tough outings.”
The Nationals open a six-game homestand Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds. Strasburg’s debut is scheduled to begin a three-game series against the Pirates, who ended play Monday with the second-lowest team batting average in the majors.
In his most recent start, Strasburg allowed three runs on six hits in five-plus innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday night. In 10 minor league starts — including five at Double-A Harrisburg — Strasburg is 6-2 with a 1.43 ERA. He has struck out 60 batters in 50 1/3 innings of work.
A former two-time All-American at San Diego State, Strasburg signed a record $15.1 million, four-year contract with the Nationals last summer.
The Associated Press contributed
to this report.
