Stephen Strasburg (9-0, 2.69) vs. Dan Straily (3-2, 5.43) – 4:10 p.m, MASN
On Saturday afternoon, Strasburg will be trying to become the first pitcher in all of baseball to get his 10th win of the year. In his last start against the Cardinals, Strasburg only struck out four batters, but he gave up only one run over six innings.
In the month of May, Strasburg was 5-0 with a 3.11 ERA in six starts. This season, he has been really good on the road. In six road starts, he is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA and has yet to give up a home run (4-0 with a 3.54 ERA at Nats Park).
Against the Reds, Strasburg is 1-`1 with a 4.68 ERA. Last season, he left his start at Great American Ball Park after one inning because of injury. Jay Bruce is 3-for-7 (.429) with a double and two RBI’s against him.
Before the season, the Reds acquired Straily off waivers from the San Diego Padres. He has appeared in 12 games this season, with nine of those being starts. The 27-year-old right-hander has gone six or more innings in six of his last seven starts.
Back on May 30 against the Rockies, Straily went six innings, gave up five runs on eight hits, struck out for, and walked three in a victory. In his last six starts, he is 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA. Surprisingly, he has been good at home in a hitter’s ball park (2.90 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .187).
While Straily has never faced the Washington Nationals in his career, there is one hitter in the lineup who has faced him. That hitter is Daniel Murphy (0-for-3).
Prediction: With Straily’s success at home, I expect the Reds to stay in this game, but in the end, I like Strasburg and the Nats to win the game and for Strasburg to pick up his 10th win.
Next: Sunday's Matchup