New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals: 5 Bold Predictions

Strasburg Returns To Form

Aug 30, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Strasburg has been under immense pressure and expectations since the minute he stepped on a major league field. It looked like it had finally got to him this season, when he started the season off with a 3-5 record and 6.50 ERA. People were beginning to talk that maybe Strasburg should be moved and that his time in Washington had come to an end. Well, those people would seem to be wrong.

Strasburg went on the DL following a start May 29th with those stats, but came out firing once he returned on June 23rd. That date started a stretch of seven straight starts in which Strasburg allowed two or less runs in, lowering his ERA to 4.14. There may have been another DL stint in the middle of it, but the results nonetheless had improved.

That streak ended in his last start though, as he gave up four runs in four innings of work against the Marlins. He was struggling with a back problem though, which could have been a reason for the poor outing. Since, he has thrown some bullpen sessions and they have gone according to plan, so he will make his scheduled start against the Mets in the series finale Wednesday night.

Strasburg will not only make that start, he will be making a new streak. Strasburg who had mixed results in his only two starts against the Mets this season all the way back in April, will get back on track and shut the Mets down. In his career he has been strong against the Mets with a 2.64 ERA in eight starts, and that success will continue this time around as well.

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