Washington Nationals: 10 greatest individual seasons
By Ron Juckett
STEPHEN STRASBURG 2017
This was the year Stephen Strasburg put it all together.
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Sure, he earned an All-Star bid in 2016. Between arm surgeries, Strasburg led the NL in strikeouts with 242 in 2014. Ever since his 2010 debut, the signs were there that Washington had an ace.
With a new contract in hand, Strasburg owned 2017. He went 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.015 WHIP. Although he matched his 2016 record, his ERA was a career-best. His 2.72 fielding independent ERA and 0.7 led the NL. Those 204 strikeouts over 175.1 did not hurt.
The change? A decision over the off-season for Strasburg to work only from the stretch. He ditched the windup and simplified his delivery.
The results? Five consecutive starts without allowing an earned run. No one scored off him from August 24 through September 10. When the streak finished on September 17 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Strasburg pitched 35.2 innings of shutout baseball. A franchise record.
He saved his best work for October. Strasburg carried a no-hitter in Game 1 of their NL Divisional Series against the Cubs into the six inning. In Game 4, with the season on the line, he shut down Chicago over seven. Fanning 12, and reportedly ill, he silenced Wrigley Field.
In his two starts, he struck out 22, walked three and did not allow an earned run over 14 innings. Remarkable work.