Strasburg departs in first inning with apparent injury

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals Orioles

August 14, 2020, 5:41pm

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BALTIMORE - Stephen Strasburg's hand doesn't appear to be OK after all.

Strasburg had to come out of tonight's game against the Orioles after throwing only 16 pitches, his velocity down and his command off, the nerve issue in his right hand that prevented him from making his first two starts of the season evidently causing a problem again.

The Nationals were hoping Strasburg would be fine five days after he made his delayed 2020 debut against this same Orioles lineup in D.C. After that 69-pitch outing, though, the right-hander admitted he was still feeling discomfort in his hand, which he said at the start of the season had an impinged nerve in it.

From the outset of tonight's game, which was delayed nearly two hours by rain, it was clear Strasburg wasn't right. His fastball registered only 91-92 mph, and he threw only seven of 16 pitches for strikes. Anthony Santander belted a 2-0 fastball onto the flag court in right field for a solo homer and a quick 1-0 lead for Baltimore.

A few pitches later, Strasburg began shaking his right hand. He then spiked a curveball in the dirt, raising more red flags. And with the count 2-0 on cleanup hitter Rio Ruiz, manager Davey Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard came to the mound to check on the 32-year-old ace.

After a brief conversation, Strasburg walked off the mound and toward the dugout, his status moving forward in this unusual season once again in question.