A chance for Strasburg to prove the doubters wrong

It's obvious that something is wrong with Stephen Strasburg. Among starters who have pitched at least 40 innings this season, Strasburg ranks 121st out of 123 with a horrid 6.50 ERA. Teams are feasting on Strasburg's pitches to the tune of a .321 batting average, also third-worst in all of baseball.

Cover your eyes. In May, the numbers are more dreadful, with Strasburg's ERA sitting at an astronomical 10.20 after surrendering a 17 earned runs in just 15 innings pitched. In fact, in three out of his last four starts, Strasburg hasn't managed to pitch out of the fourth inning.

So, naturally, the world is coming to an end.

The theories about Strasburg's struggles are wide-ranging and everybody has one . Some think he's injured, while others choose to insult his manhood by saying he isn't tough enough.

How come Strasburg isn't afforded the benefit of the doubt that this is possibly just an early-season slump?

It wasn't too long ago that Nationals manager Matt Williams tabbed Strasburg to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series last October. That was coming off a regular season where Strasburg tied for the most strikeouts in the NL and led the Nationals in starts and innings pitched. He finished the year 14-11 with a 3.14 ERA. Actually, the highest Strasburg's ERA has ever been in a season is just 3.16 in 2012.

Yet, less than 10 starts into this year, people are panicking.

Strasburg is an easy target for the critics. His body language can be poor at times. When facing adversity, he tends to plod around the mound, repeatedly going for the rosin bag or asking the umpire for fresh baseballs. His style of pitching drops off considerably when runners are on base. Williams has repeatedly emphasized that he just wants Strasburg to remain "aggressive." Too often, the tall righty is relying on his off-speed pitches instead of his once intimidating fastball.

The evaluations of Strasburg are even harsher this season, not only because of his struggles, but also due to the arrival of Max Scherzer via a $210 million free agent deal. Scherzer, who has taken over as the Nationals' ace, pitches with a commanding presence on the mound. He is highly emotional, often fist-pumping and yelling after monster strikeouts. Scherzer doesn't trudge around the hill, he stalks around it.

Beyond all of that, Scherzer is arguably baseball's best pitcher this year. He is everything Nats fans expected from Strasburg. Not only did they expect it, they believed it was guaranteed that Strasburg would be one of the game's great hurlers after his show-stopping 14-strikeout major league debut.

Obviously, the Tommy John surgery was a major speed bump in his early development, not to mention the national controversy created created by his late-season shutdown during the Nats' playoff run in 2012.

Entering the season, Strasburg figured to be a primary factor in the Nationals' expected run to the postseason. So far, it's been the opposite. As the worst month of his career winds down, Strasburg has the opportunity to prove to the critics and, more importantly, to himself that he is still plenty capable of being that dominant pitcher.

Tonight, he'll toe the slab in Cincinnati, hoping to regain his confidence - as well as that of doubting fan base.

"It's definitely something that I've never experienced before," Strasburg said after his last start. "I think it's a test. It's a test for me and I'm gonna look at it that way and I'm not gonna quit. I'm gonna keep going."