Stephen Strasburg walked off the mound with trainer Paul Lessard after just 16 pitches against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, according to Jesse Doughtery of the Washington Post.
A day after he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes from the stands, Strasburg didn’t last past the first inning of his start. He got two outs and had allowed a solo home run to Baltimore’s Anthony Santander before he started shaking his pitching hand, an indicator to Lessard and manager Dave Martinez something wasn’t quite right. After a quick examination, Strasburg exited the top of the first inning.
Strasburg missed his first scheduled start of the season on Jul. 25 with nerve issues in his pitching hand. He rehabbed and insisted he could pitch through the ailment.
Strasburg made his season debut on Aug. 9 against the same Orioles. He allowed five earned runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings. He admitted then after the game his hand wasn’t 100 percent.
Martinez said before Friday’s start at Baltimore there was concern over Strasburg’s hand.
Strasburg is a key cog in the Nationals’ trio of aces in their pitching rotation alongside Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin. Strasburg stepped into the forefront last season, winning the World Series MVP. But, this season has been anything but as spectacular for hurler.
