Nats looking for boost from Stephen Strasburg's return

The Nationals need a dominant and healthy Stephen Strasburg to return to the mound tonight and remain in the rotation until the final out of the year. Bothered by injuries since spring training and derailed twice by lengthy stints on the disabled list, Strasburg is set to make just his 14th start of the season tonight against the Rockies.

Strasburg emerged from his first trip to the DL displaying confidence and command with all of his pitches. He went 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA while striking out 15 and walking just two in two starts. Midway through his third outing, he suffered a strained left oblique, which sidelined him for the past month.

It's been a disappointing result for Strasburg, who last year logged a career-high and team-best 215 innings pitched while tying for the National League lead with 242 strikeouts. Strasburg finished strong in 2014, going 6-1 with a sterling 1.69 ERA in his final nine starts beginning on Aug 14.

Losers of six of their past eight and trailing the Mets in the NL East by 2 1/2 games, the Nationals desperately hope Strasburg can show that form and effectiveness which makes him one of the game's most imposing right-handers.

"We don't look at it like that," said manager Matt Williams after last night's gut-wrenching 5-4 loss. "We look at (today). We're happy to have Strasy back in the rotation. He's feeling good. He's got the ability to go out there and shut anybody down on any given day. We'll hope for that, prepare and see if we can get them.

Williams was pleased with Jordan Zimmermann's performance last night despite the loss. The right-hander allowed only one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

"Really good," Williams said. "He gave us all he had."

Zimmermann rebounded after a rough outing last Sunday in New York when he was bombed for three homers in the third inning in a 5-2 loss to the Mets.

"The fastball command was good," Zimmermann said. "I was able to get it in to lefties and away on righties. I was having trouble with that last start, you know, left side of the plate. (Friday night) was a lot better. I could put the fastball where I wanted it."

Zimmermann struck out six last night with no walks. That's his eighth start this season without issuing a free pass.

"That's the key every time out," Zimmermann said. "Walks lead to runs, and obviously, I'd rather give up a base hit than a walk in any situation. Just battle and throw strikes."

Drew Storen's inability to hold the lead was surprising inside and outside the Nats clubhouse. Storen had not surrendered a run in his last 14 appearances dating back to June 26. Carlos Gonzalez's eighth-inning grand slam was just the second homer Storen has allowed in 42 1/3 innings this year.

"It was tough," Zimmermann said. "It's baseball though. It's gonna happen. Nobody's perfect. We're gonna give up runs. It just happened that it was a grand slam, and it stings a little bit, but we're gonna come back (Saturday) and be ready to play."