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The Washington Nationals were feeling energized after hosting the MLB All-Star Game and watching star Bryce Harper claim the Home Run Derby in front of the home crowd. Entering the second half 5.5 games back and the second-place Atlanta Braves coming into town, the Nationals were primed to kick start their rally against their NL East rivals. Second ace Stephen Strasburg — fresh off the disabled list — got the start on his 30th birthday.
Hours later all that excitement was subdued. Strasburg was chased off the mound after just 4 2/3 innings with the Braves rocked him for six runs. As he walked to the dugout, he was greeted by teammate and ace of pitching staff Max Scherzer. After a pat on the back, Strasburg took exception to something said by Scherzer and the two star pitchers got into a heated exchange that resulted in both men going into the clubhouse.
Following the 8-5 loss their seventh against the Braves in 11 games this season, Nationals manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Strasburg, Scherzer, and he met together to settle tempers after the game, saying the three had a “good” conversation and that both Scherzer and Strasburg take ownership of the team and their competitive natures led to the exchange.
Martinez on Strasburg/Scherzer: "They sat there and there's two guys that are very competitive, and they got heated up and that was it. Tomorrow, they'll be hugging probably and laughing and joking and we'll move on."
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 21, 2018
Strasburg, who fell to 6-7 on the season with the loss, was mum on details of the exchange with Scherzer, calling the situation a family matter.
āItās part of family, man,ā Strasburg said per Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post. āYou got to be in the family.ā
Scherzer was not made available to speak with the media.
For a Nationals team that is now 6 games behind the Braves for second place and 6.5 behind the Philadelphia Phillies for first, they have to hope the squabble will be put to rest for tomorrow. They also have to hope that they start to put to rest any roadblocks and struggles that are preventing them to flipping the switch and living up to pre-season expectations.
The exchange by Strasburg and Scherzer just add fire to simmering flames. The Nationals, who are once again below .500 at 48-49, have a lot to handle and just 65 games to do so. If they can’t put a hand on it soon, the pitchers’ exchange will just be the stamp of how the 2018 season went all wrong for the club.
