How a Successful Stephen Strasburg Comeback Would Impact Nats' Charge

Here's something for the Washington Nationals to ponder: What if they get Stephen Strasburg back?

And not merely in the sense of Strasburg's taking the hill again, which is something that's likely to happen soon—possibly Tuesday, but more on that in a moment.

No, we're talking about the Nats getting Stephen Strasburg, the guy who not so long ago was among the most dominant young arms in baseball. Add that guy to Washington's rotation, and you have a team that might finally live up to its promise and run away with the National League East.

Even with an ineffective and/or injured Strasburg, the Nationals are sitting atop the division, 1.5 games up on the New York Mets entering play Monday.

But this is a club that came into the season trailing great expectations. ESPN.com indicates it was a near-consensus pick in a league defined by parity and uncertainty.

It's not that the Nats have been bad. Again, they'd be a playoff team if the season ended today, and they've got a guy—Max Scherzer—who's pitching like a Cy Young candidate and another guy—Bryce Harper—who's in the thick of the MVP conversation.

There's been something missing, though; some absent ingredient.

Denis Poroy/Getty Images

Scherzer has dominated, while the rest of Washington's hyped super-rotation has hit a few bumps. In Strasburg's case, he's veered completely off the road.

Before he landed on the disabled list in late May with a neck issue, the 26-year-old right-hander owned an unsightly 6.55 ERA. He lasted past the fourth inning in just one of his final five starts and coughed up five or more earned runs twice in that span.

Rarely, if ever, did he look like the phenom who made the All-Star team in 2012 or the emerging ace who led the National League with 242 strikeouts in 2014.

Plenty of theories were floated to explain Strasburg's struggles, including this one from Sports Illustrated's Cliff Corcoran:

"

The reduced effectiveness of his changeup might be the biggest concern. ... Strasburg's changeup is widely considered his best pitch and has in the past been one of the most dominant pitches in the majors, but this year, opponents are hitting it harder, more often and for more power than ever before. 

"

Indeed, after limiting opponents to a .154 average against the changeup in 2014, Strasburg saw them whack it to the tune of a .263 mark in the early going this year, per FanGraphs. Did he suddenly forget how to throw the pitch or did the injury interfere with his mechanics?

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Strasburg made a rehab start with Double-A club Harrisburg June 17 and allowed one run with six strikeouts in five innings. According to Jacob Feldman of the Washington Post, "He sailed through a bullpen session Saturday with no announced setbacks."

He could pitch in a big league game as soon as Tuesday, according to Feldman, but that decision hasn't been formally announced.

Whenever he takes the ball, the eyes of Nats nation will be on him. This isn't just any hurler working his way back. This is a former No. 1 overall pick, a can't-miss talent who—when he's right—dazzles like few others.

The Nationals recently reinstated another starter, Doug Fister, from the DL and watched him allow five earned runs in 5.1 innings June 18.

"I felt a lot better. It's a work in progress," Fister said after the start, per MLB.com's Jacob Emert and Bill Ladson. "I know I keep saying that, but that's what it is."

It's possible Strasburg will take a similar tack, shaking off cobwebs and offering a mixed bag of results. If so, Nats fans should resist the urge to mash the panic button. The Nationals have enough pitching depth and overall talent to be patient, including fill-in Joe Ross (2.66 ERA across three starts).

But what if Strasburg dominates? What if the neck ailment really was the cause of his struggles? 

"We've got one of the best staffs in baseball with Stras coming back this week against the Braves," Harper told Feldman, expressing confidence both in his teammate's ability and the fact Strasburg will pitch during the upcoming series with Atlanta between June 23-25.

If he does, and if he looks like Stephen Strasburg, Washington will be permitted to dream big.

All statistics current as of June 21 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.