Early stretch run for Strasburg as Nationals host Marlins (Apr 03, 2017)
WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg is 28 and has been playing professional baseball since 2010.
So it may seem unusual that he is making a significant change as a pitcher going into this season.
The first overall pick out of San Diego State, Strasburg will pitch out of the stretch position this year even when no runners are on base.
He will make the start on Monday against the Miami Marlins and fellow right-hander Edinson Volquez on Opening Day at Nationals Park. Strasburg, the Opening Day starter from 2012-14, pitched out of the stretch during spring training after he made the decision to do so before heading to Florida.
"I think I have gotten pretty confident with it," said Strasburg, sitting in a conference room at Nationals Park on Friday. "It is on ongoing process."
Strasburg said he made the change in order to help him pitch deeper in games and hopefully be more durable. Is he committed to pitching out of the stretch all year?
"I will make that decision when I have to," the California native said.
The right-hander won 15 of his first 16 decisions last season and was 15-4 with a 3.60 ERA in 24 starts. He went 147 2/3 innings and gave up 119 hits with 183 strikeouts and 44 walks after he signed a seven-year contract extension in May.
But Strasburg, an All-Star in 2012 and 2016, did not pitch after Sept. 7 due to a strained flexor mass. He now appears to be healthy and will be opposed by Volquez, who was acquired from the Kansas City Royals after last season.
"New guy on a new team," Volquez told reporters in Florida. "It's a great opportunity for me to pitch the first game for the Marlins. I've been here before. It's nothing new for me. I will do my best to win the first game."
The Marlins were 79-82 last season and finished third in the National League East, 15 1/2 games back of the first-place Nationals. Washington lost in the playoffs to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It really could've been a number of guys," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters of his Opening Day starter. "We feel like (Volquez is) the right guy. He pitches with big intensity. An Opening Day crowd I feel like will be good for him."
Volquez, 33, was 10-11 with a 5.37 ERA in 34 starts last season with the Royals. He allowed 217 hits in 189 1/3 innings and fanned 139 with 76 walks.
The spot taken by Volquez, of course, was reserved for right-hander Jose Fernandez before his death last September in a boating accident in Florida. The first road game the Marlins played after the death of Fernandez was in Washington at the end of last season.
Strasburg is 69-41 in 156 starts with a 3.17 ERA and he became the third starting pitcher in the National League to start a season 13-0 in 2016.
Max Scherzer started Opening Day the past two seasons in Washington but he dealt with a finger problem during spring training but is on track to face the Marlins on Thursday.
"I am just glad they are both healthy," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of Strasburg and Scherzer.
Washington's closer will be Blake Treinen, who made his big league debut in 2014 and has one career save. "It is hard to elevate that sinker," Baker said. "He has a changeup and he has a slider, too."
Other candidates for the closer spot were Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover. "It was a tough decision," Baker said.
The Nationals may be without starting third baseman Anthony Rendon. He has not played in a spring training game since March 27 due to a calf problem.
Baker did not promise that Rendon will be ready for Opening Day though he may not have to go on the disabled list.
"He's doing so-so," Baker said Friday.
