Strasburg's health critical to Nats' hopes (Nats win 2-1)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is on another nice streak, having allowed only two earned runs over 15 innings in his last two starts. He has done a nice job of using his fastball, changeup and curveball to strike out batters.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez has noticed that Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki are not afraid to call for three or four changeups in a row if they believe that will confuse hitters.

"I think a lot of has to do with Suzuki and Gomes," Martinez said. "He trusts the catchers and working together. He trusts them putting the right fingers down. Ultimately, I think that if it isn't the right finger, it's his choice what he wants to throw. But it's a conversation they have in between innings. They always have a plan and he sticks to the plan. When he sticks to the plan, he's really good."

So instead of relying on his fastball and curveball for strikeouts, Strasburg has added a heavy dose of his changeup.

"I think that's something he learned about himself last year when his velo was down - he started pitching," Martinez said. "As you recall, he did pretty good. I think that's something he recalls and remembers. He can use all his pitches at any time."

Martinez believes that Strasburg's use of other pitches has helped his fastball slowly build back velocity from 93-94 mph to 95-96 mph.

"When he's utilizing his changeup and throwing it down in the strike zone, a lot of good things happen," Martinez said. "Everybody's talked about the velo. Now he's pumping 95, 96 mph again. That's kind of nice. When he's really on, his ball is down and his ball's moving and he's got that crisp 95, 96 mph."

Strasburg made only 22 starts last season. He endured two stints on the disabled list in 2018, once for right shoulder inflammation and the other for a cervical nerve impingement. Coupled with closer Sean Doolittle being held to only 43 appearances, two of the most important pitching weapons were not healthy the entire season and played a role in an 82-80 finish.

Strasburg has not made more than 30 starts in a season since 2014. It is a fact that the right-hander rarely gets through a season unscathed. But Strasburg looks determined to get to 30 starts and beyond this season. He look strong in these latest starts and has not wavered the first month. His skipper desperately needs him to stay upright for the entire run.

"We really need to keep Stras healthy," Martinez said. "He's one of the guys. Everybody talks about (Max) Scherzer, talks about (Patrick) Corbin now, but Stras has been here for years. A veteran pitcher. He's a guy that we count on every fifth day. We want to keep him healthy.

"He changed his whole routine this offseason. You look at him, he's physically right. His mechanics are good right now. ... I like where he's at right now. Mentally, physically. I watch him, there are days when I know a lot of people say he doesn't smile that much, but I see him smile and laughing a lot now."

Strasburg told me in Miami last month that he has made adjustments to how he pitches, which he believes has made a difference in how he feels into the second month of the season.

Specifically, Martinez has seen Strasburg has adjusted his mechanics and it has helped his approach.

"A lot of times last year, he was hard on his front side," Martinez said. "This year he's not. He's under control. He shortened everything up. He's pitching really well right now."

Update: Strasburg struck out four batters in his first two frames. In the second, he struck out Tyler O'Neill with a curveball and Harrison Bader with a fastball.

Cards right-hander Dakota Hudson struck out five batters in the first two innings, including four in a row.

In the third inning, former Nats catcher Matt Wieters had the game's first base hit, but was caught off second base later in the frame by catcher Yan Gomes.

Yairo Muñoz singled and Hudson moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Kolten Wong then laced a single down the right field line to score Muñoz for a 1-0 lead.

With two outs in the third, Strasburg drew a walk to become the first baserunner of the game for the Nats. Adam Eaton then walked and Victor Robles grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

After three innings, the Cardinals lead the Nats 1-0.

Update II: Singles by Howie Kendrick and Matt Adams got the fourth going for the Nats against Hudson. Gomes singled and the grounder was bobbled by Muñoz at shortstop. His wild throw allowed Kendrick to score the tying run. A 6-4-3 double play grounder by Brian Dozier brought in Adams.

Strasburg is one strikeout away from 1,500 for his career.

After four innings, the Nats lead the Cards 2-1.

Update III: Strasburg struck out Hudson to end the fifth inning for his eighth strikeout of the game. He now has recorded 1,500 strikeouts in 1,272 1/3 innings, making him the fastest pitcher to reach that milestone. Chris Sale reached that mark in 1,290 innings.

Update IV: Strasburg finished 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. He threw 108 pitches, 69 for strikes. Tony Sipp notched the final out of the seventh.

Mid-seventh, the Nats lead the Cards 2-1.

Update V: Incredible gut check passed by Nats in the eighth. Kyle Barraclough allowed two singles, but struck out two. With two men on, Sean Doolittle walked Bader. The Cards sent up pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt. With two strikes and the bases loaded, Goldschmidt hit a ball foul down the left field line that almost reached the Devil's Backbone porch on the third deck. Doolittle was able to strike him out when first base umpire Quinn Wolcott judged Goldschmidt went too far on a checked swing for strike three.

Update VI: Doolittle continued into the ninth. Muñoz singled to center field. Pinch-hitter Paul DeJong struck out on a fastball higher up in the zone. Kolten Wong drove a ball to deep left field that was caught by Adam Eaton. Jedd Gyorko popped up to right field to end the game.

The Nats snap a three-game skid. Strasburg gets the win and Doolittle earns his fourth save.

Final score: Nats 2, Cards 1.