Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg left Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning. Strasburg struggled through 1 1/3 innings with his velocity.
Strasburg’s issues arose one batter into the game. After walking lead-off hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. on four pitches, manager Davey Martinez and head trainer Paul Lessard visited the right handed hurler on the mound.
Strasburg was able to get out of the first inning after surrendering a run, hit and walk. Pitching coach Jim Hickey, Martinez, Lessard and Strasburg all met in the tunnel behind the dugout in between innings.
After issuing a lead-off walk in the second, Strasburg took a comebacker off his left arm off the bat of William Contreras. That prompted a second visit from Martinez and Lessard despite Strasburg waving them off.
A brief discussion ensued before Martinez appeared able to convince Strasburg to come off the mound for the night. Austin Voth replaced Strasburg with one out and a runner on second base.
Strasburg left the game allowing one run, one hit and two walks with one strikeout on 30 pitches.
Last August, Stephen Strasburg underwent carpel tunnel surgery for a nerve issue in his pitching hand. The ailment ended his 2020 season after just two starts.
He returned with hopes of being back on track. However, he landed on the injured list in April with inflammation in his right shoulder after his velocity was noticeably off during a start against the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this season.
Strasburg returned on May 21 after spending over a month on the IL. He made two starts neither going past 5 1/3 innings and 87 pitches before Tuesday’s start against the Braves.
Strasburg has a 4.57 ERA and 1-2 record in five starts this season.
