10 more strikeouts for Stephen Strasburg in Nats' 13-3 win

Widespread injuries are the main culprit for why the Nationals find themselves on the outside looking in to the playoffs with under two weeks remaining in the regular season. They also account for the primary reasons why Stephen Strasburg won't be mentioned in the Cy Young Award voting despite the dominant form the right-hander has displayed over the past three months.

Strasburg's blazing fastball, nasty curveball and baffling changeup handcuffed the Marlins this afternoon. He fanned 10 batters while only allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with just one walk over seven innings as the Nationals rolled to a 13-3 win.

"The key there is fastball command," manager Matt Williams said. "When he was dealing with the issues and being uncomfortable out there, it wasn't as easy for him to throw the ball where he wants to. But since he's been back and healthy and feeling good, the curveball has been good and the changeup has been good. But it all starts with the fastball. He's been able to control it both sides of the plate."

Strasburg reached double digit strikeouts for the third straight game, setting a new National record with 37 strikeouts over the span.

Strasburg sprained his left ankle late in spring training and it bothered him along with back discomfort throughout the first two months of the season. His ERA skyrocketed to 6.55 before he landed on the disabled list after his 10th start on May 30. In his 11 starts since returning on June 23, Strasburg's ERA is 1.99.

But a left oblique strain derailed his season again on July 4, sending him back to the DL for over a month. He finally returned to the mound on Aug. 8 and has been incredible ever since, going 5-2 with a 2.24 ERA while striking out 72 and walking only six over 52 1/3 innings.

"Even before I pulled my oblique, I felt like my mechanics ... I was making improvements with it and getting in the right direction," Strasburg said. "That was kind of a freak thing. Obviously, my arm feels strong at this point just not having the innings I would hope for."

Strasburg's consistent command of the strike zone has been key.

"He's throwing a lot of strikes," Yunel Escobar said after going 4-for-4 with four RBIs. "Obviously, his stuff is very good. It's just a matter of locating the ball well, which he has been. All his pitches are plus pitches so he's going to get those results."

"He's pounding the zone," said Tyler Moore, whose three-run homer highlighted a seven-run sixth inning. "He's throwing strikes. When he does that, his stuff is kind of unhittable. It's tough. I know he probably messed up on a couple of pitches, but he's been solid ever since coming back. He's been a big thing for us."

When Strasburg was struggling early in the season, Williams repeatedly asked him to be aggressive. Now he's attacking hitters and controlling every sequence.

"I don't think it's (a change in) mentality," Williams said. "I think it's health. He feels good and when he feels good, you can see him running the ball in there at 98 miles per hour today. That's pretty impressive. He's able to reach back and be aggressive in that regard. When he wasn't feeling well early and dealing with all the issues he dealt with, the ankle and the back. He was trying to feel the ball over the plate a little bit. Now that he's healthy, I don't see an issue with it. He's raring back and firing it when he needs to."

The Nationals are 9-2 in Strasburg's last 11 starts. They stand 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Mets, who will finish a series with the Yankees later this evening. If they fail to make the playoffs, the Nationals will undoubtedly point to Strasburg's health issues as one of the main factors as to why they aren't playing baseball deep into October.

"You just try and focus on the now," Strasburg said. "You can't really worry about the past or the future."