After 75-pitch rehab start, Nats face decision on Strasburg

Stephen Strasburg appears to have done what he needed to do in today's rehab start for Triple-A Rochester. Now, the Nationals have to decide if it's enough to activate the right-hander off the injured list.

Strasburg threw 75 pitches over 4 1/3 scoreless innings this afternoon in Trenton, N.J., temporary home of the Buffalo Bisons while their ballpark is being prepped for the Blue Jays. Making his first official minor league rehab start after pitching in two simulated games at Nationals Park in the last two weeks, he faced an opposing lineup for the first time since going on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.

The Nationals were hoping Strasburg could go five innings and build up to 75-80 pitches today. He wasn't quite as efficient as needed to do that in full, but with his pitch count at 73 after the fourth, he was allowed to take the mound again for the fifth, record a quick out and the depart.

Strasburg allowed two hits and walked two while striking out six, three of them in succession during the bottom of the fourth, his best inning. Radar gun readings in Trenton weren't available, so it's not known how hard he was throwing.

Manager Davey Martinez, meeting with reporters on Zoom from Arizona before the Nationals' series finale against the Diamondbacks while Strasburg was in the middle of his start, said he'd wait until this evening to ask about the rehab appearance and get a full report on the veteran's performance.

"I'll look at everything after our game," Martinez said. "I just hope everything goes well. It's more about hoping there's no issues with his shoulder and he gets five innings in. We'll see, and I'll look at all that stuff and talk to some people after the game today and see how it went."

At some point soon, though, Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo will need to decide their next step. If they deem Strasburg ready to return, he would likely be activated to start Friday night's homestand opener against the Orioles. If not, Erick Fedde would remain in line to make that start.

Fedde, who is pitching today in Arizona, is the most likely odd man out whenever Strasburg returns. Because he's out of minor league options, though, the right-hander would need to be sent to the bullpen, while still remaining available to start if needed.

"I can't answer that right now. But it's definitely going to be a conversation," Martinez said. "Because the biggest thing is, I don't want Fedde to get hurt by moving him back and forth. We'll have to sit down and make a really good decision. Fedde's done great as a starter. I really believe he can also help us in the bullpen, whether it's a one- or two-inning stint. We'll just have to take a look at all of this stuff when it comes up."

The possibility of a six-man rotation has seemed remote all along, but Martinez hasn't completely ruled it out as a way to help reduce Strasburg and Joe Ross' workloads after they missed the 2020 season. At the same time, he wants to ensure Max Scherzer starts every five days no matter what, complicating matters.

For now, Martinez doesn't want Fedde stressing over his future when there's a more pressing task at hand.

"We just want him to focus on today," the manager said. "Make my decision tough, that's what I want him to go out there and do. Either way, he knows how important he is to us, whether he starts again or whether he goes to the bullpen. I really like what he's done. He's pitched well. We have some decisions to make, but for today he's going to start, and hopefully he goes out there and keeps us in the ballgame."