Nats head to Atlanta with concerns for Strasburg, taxed bullpen

DENVER - The bullpen was overused in the Rockies series, a problem Nationals manager Dusty Baker was hoping to avoid.

But the relievers pitched starter innings. Max Scherzer lasted four innings in Game One. Gio Gonzalez three innings on Tuesday and Stephen Strasburg lasted a stunning 1 2/3 innings in the finale.

The 16 1/3 innings in three games for the bullpen is too much, especially when coming in you would hope that number would be around six or seven frames for the three-game set.

Baker said Wednesday was unusual because the ace Strasburg had the roughest two innings of his season.

"It was the most challenging game we've had this year to try and stay in the game," Baker said. "You can't trade runs with them when you're playing from a deficit and we were trading runs with them in the middle innings. Usually when you win 7,8,9 innings usually you win.

"It was very challenging because I didn't want to run out of players, because they had more men and more weapons in their bullpen. After a while, the matchup isn't as important as whose fresh because usually when the scores like that the other team relaxes and they just run off and beat you but our guys did a great job."

To show how desperate Baker was in the second inning, he called upon Koda Glover, who arrived at the clubhouse fresh off a flight from the East Coast that had him up at 4 a.m. But Glover was up to the task, as he has been in his first three-plus innings in the bigs. Glover went 1 1/3 innings with no runs, no hits and one walk.

Right fielder Bryce Harper, who launched a two-run homer in the game, loves having Glover back on the 25-man roster.

"I'm excited for Koda," Harper said. "That kid's upside is unbelievable, 98, 99 mph. He has huge cojones. That guy goes in and does everything possible to get the outs. He's not scared of anybody. I'm very excited to see him."

But with all the bullpen traffic these last three games, and the young Reynaldo Lopez scheduled tonight in Atlanta, will Baker need to make a move for reinforcements?

"We'll let you know tomorrow," Baker said.

Was Harper surprised to see Strasburg struggle?

"I think it's just part of the game," Harper said. "I think it's how it works. When guys do stuff that is very special I think people need to enjoy that and really take that in. When Stras has it, he knows what he's doing out there. Like I said it's a great hitting team over there, tough place to pitch here, and he'll be up and at 'em Monday or Tuesday."

That may be the bigger concern is getting Strasburg right for the final month and a half of the regular season. Strasburg and Scherzer at their best from earlier in the season is the one-two punch to be able to get off to a good start in a big series, especially against a top opponent in October.

Was pitching at hitter-friendly Coors Field one reason for his struggles?

"I'm not gonna make that excuse," Strasburg said. "I didn't execute enough to get weak contact, and they hit it."

Baker said there was nothing physically wrong with Strasburg or he wouldn't have put him out there. He pointed to Strasburg's 95-96 mph velocity. But his fastball was too hittable and he had trouble locating. That is a focus Strasburg will take as he prepares for the Orioles early next week. Issuing 17 runs in the last 11 innings is not what Strasburg was allowing on his long win streak. He needs a good start next week to break this uncomfortable trend.