Stephen Strasburg Brings the Heat: Nationals Phenom Mows Down the Dodgers

Stephen Strasburg made a different kind of debut last night.  After Tommy John surgery and rehabbing his surgically repaired right elbow, the Washington Nationals phenom had not pitched in the big leagues in just over a  year.  Strasburg's return was a date baseball fans had been looking forward to for quite some time.

Strasburg lived up to the hype—again.

He showed off a 99 mph fastball, a wicked curveball and that changeup that just disappears.  Strasburg had it all working, throwing five shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He left the game with a 3-0 lead, but the Dodgers would come back to score seven runs against the Nationals bullpen, winning the game 7-3.

The Nationals are keeping Strasburg on a strict pitch count, and who can blame them?  He threw 56 pitches, 40 of them for strikes.  He was working ahead in the count most of the night, throwing a first-pitch strike to 14 of the 17 batters he faced.

So what is next for Strasburg?

The Nationals have him scheduled to make a couple more starts, both at home.  Do you think they did that on purpose just to make a few extra bucks?  Can you blame them?  Strasburg is the biggest reason Nats fans have to attend a game! 

Besides making a few extra dollars, the biggest concern for the Nats is keeping Strasburg healthy.  And I think I speak for all baseball fans when I say I'm also rooting for this kid to stay healthy.  He is the most exciting young pitcher to come along in a very, very long time. 

The game is always better off when star prospects like Strasburg stay healthy and realize their potential.