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World Series Game 6: Nationals turn to Stephen Strasburg with season on line

By Jake Mastroianni

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the third inning in Game Two of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 23, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the third inning in Game Two of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 23, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 23: Stephen  Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals walks off the field after retiring the side against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game Two of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 23, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 23: Stephen  Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals walks off the field after retiring the side against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game Two of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 23, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Stephen Strasburg vs. Astros hitters — round 2

The Nationals are going to ask Stephen Strasburg to give them one more brilliant performance in 2019.

And hopefully it won’t be his last act as a Washington Nationals player.

Strasburg hasn’t given up more than 3 runs in a start in over two months, and he’s gone at least 6 innings in all but one of those starts during that time.

The Nationals will need him to give at least that good of a performance — if not more with the way the offense has been lately — in Game 6 on Tuesday night.

We all know he’s more than capable of delivering in this World Series. He’s gone at least 6 innings in every postseason start this year, and he’s thrown 105 pitches or more in his last three postseason starts.

This is Stephen Strasburg’s game. Dave Martinez will not go to the bullpen in this one unless he absolutely has to — there is no one in that bullpen I trust more to get the Nationals out of a jam than Strasburg.

Martinez can’t play this like a normal elimination game where you yank your starter at the first sign of trouble, the Nationals only chance is if Strasburg works deep into this game.

Jose Altuve, who might be the MVP of the entire postseason and the World Series if the Astros win, doubled and singled off Strasburg in Game 2.

Micheal Brantley had a pair of singles off Strasburg in that game, Yordan Alvarez reached twice off him, and Alex Bregman took him deep in the first (the only runs Strasburg allowed).

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