Washington Nationals: Nationals All-Star Pitching Candidates
Starting Pitcher Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg no longer throws an effortless 98 mile per hour fastball, but he is getting outs as frequently as ever.
Related Story. Strasburg Adapts His Pitching Style. light
With a steadier diet of sinkers and curveballs, Strasburg has pitched his way to a 3.45 ERA (3.12 FIP), an 11.57 K/9 and a top 10 pitching WAR in Major League Baseball.
This season, Strasburg ranks in the top five of the MLB in strikeouts, and top ten in innings pitched. This shows that despite his change in pitch selection, he’s still producing the results Nats fans are accustom to seeing.
A stalwart of the Nationals organization since his debut in 2010, Strasburg is aiming to make his fourth all-star team in his career.
If he achieves that goal in 2019, it will be his third all-star appearance in four years.
Strasburg made the team in 2016 and 2017 but only pitched in the 2012 game. He faced four batters, allowing one hit and one walk, but secured a double-play in a shutout inning.
As quiet as Strasburg is, he’ll never advocate for himself for the All-Star Game. However, Nats fans know how great he is, and they should do the talking for him when All-Star voting time comes.