Washington Nationals 2017 Player Review: Stephen Strasburg

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg had the best season of his career in 2017. We take a look at all he accomplished.

When the Washington Nationals selected Stephen Strasburg first overall in the 2009 draft, immense pressure and expectations were immediately placed on him. Then, he made the best MLB debut of all-time in 2010, allowing just four hits with 14 strikeouts in seven innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Nationals had not yet become a contender when Strasburg arrived, but he would be the savior. He would lead the team to relevance.

Then, after just 12 starts, Strasburg tore his UCL and required Tommy John surgery. The Nats opted to ease him back in, which included a controversial shutdown prior to the 2012 postseason. Ever since then, the injuries have seemingly piled up, but he has been dominant when healthy.

This year was no different. Strasburg missed a few weeks due to a nerve impingement in his elbow, but when he was on the field, he was masterful.

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The highlight of Strasburg’s regular season came in August and September, when the ace pitched 35 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Amazingly, this stretch was just a preview of what was to come in the postseason.

In another devastating postseason series loss, Strasburg shone bright. As Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell described it, “Strasburg did not just get over a hump; he jumped over a mountain.”

In two starts throughout the National League Division Series, Strasburg pitched 14 innings, allowing just six hits and no earned runs. He was absolutely unhittable. Anthony Rizzo, who was arguably the Cubs’ best offensive performer throughout the series, described Strasburg as the best pitcher he had ever seen after game one.

The postseason also included Strasburg silencing everyone who doubted him. Due to his many injuries, he has the reputation of being “soft”, and his doubters came out in full force before game four.

Game four was originally supposed to be played on Tuesday, but a rain-out postponed it to Wednesday. Tanner Roark was supposed to pitch game four, but after the rain-out, everyone assumed Strasburg would get the nod. However, Dusty Baker announced that Roark would remain the game four starter because Strasburg was dealing with an illness.

Many members of the media immediately began to crucify Strasburg for not pitching an elimination game due to an illness. The next day, Strasburg came to the Nats and said he felt better and would pitch game four if they allowed him to.

After an extremely confusing and frustrating series of events, Strasburg started game four while still sick and pitched one of the best games of his life. He pitched seven scoreless innings, leading the Nats to a game four victory, which forced a game five.

When all was said and done in 2017, Strasburg was among the best starting pitchers in the MLB. His 2.52 regular season ERA ranked third in the National League, behind only Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer.

He also pitched to a 2.33 ERA between the regular season and postseason, which goes to show how consistently dominant he was throughout the entire season. Although he may not win it, he will undoubtedly be in the Cy Young Award conversation.

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Strasburg has dealt with immense pressure and expectations throughout his entire professional career, but he has lived up to them, especially in 2017. This season was the first of his massive seven year, $175 million extension, but he absolutely earned it.

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