Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg Goes Cold After Icy Hot Prank

Stephen Strasburg's day could have gone better. Perhaps a better performance on the mound and less Icy Hot on his testicles would have helped. 

Nobody is perfect. That includes Nationals' ace Stephen Strasburg and the alleged prankster that put something hot where it doesn't belong. 

Oh, I know that you must have a ton of questions after a statement like that. All in good time. 

The Nationals dropped a game to the Padres on Tuesday. Losing to San Diego is embarrassment enough, but the Nats found a new way to make headlines. 

Consider this tweet from the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore.

"

An unusual postgame revelation: Davey volunteered that Strasburg got "hot stuff" in "the wrong place" and "I don't know how it got there."

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 15, 2012"

Thankfully, we have a few more details on the biggest mystery of the day. CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman offers this in a tweet.

"

The insinuation from Davey: Somebody put something like Icy-Hot on Strasburg in a place it shouldn't have been before game.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) May 15, 2012"

Strasburg had a dominant 1.64 ERA coming into the game and left with a 2.25 ERA. Through four innings, the young ace allowed seven hits and four earned runs. 

In short and simple terms, he wasn't himself. 

Having a foreign substance that can leave a burning sensation in the most delicate of places might do that. 

I'm all for pranks and leaving itching powder, Icy Hot or something else on the man's jockstrap, if that is indeed what happened, but there is a time and place. 

If you want a specific time, I don't have one. I would think anytime other than his turn in the rotation would be a good idea. 

The think tank they have over in Washington is just brilliant. Watch out, Bryce Harper, because you're next. 

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