Strasburg made his second career start Sunday afternoon in Cleveland. And while it wasn’t quite the seven-inning, 14-strikeout performance he displayed in his first start, it was still pretty darn good.
Strasburg picked up his second career win over the Indians, allowing one run on two hits while striking out eight. Strasburg was again on a pitch count of about 100, and finished at 95 pitches mainly because of five walks. Conversely, he didn’t walk any in his first start.
Perhaps Strasburg’s most impressive quality has been his resiliency and poise. He has handled the high expectations as well – if not better – than anyone could have expected. Even when he is humbled, he bounces back. In the second inning of Sunday’s start, Travis Hafner turned around a 100 mph fastball for a screaming line drive home run. But after that, Strasburg retired the next seven he faced.
Strasburg also has shown the ability to strike out batters at will. After striking out the last seven he faced in his first start, Strasburg opened Sunday’s game with two more Ks. As it stands now, Strasburg is averaging over 16 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
The real test will come as Strasburg sees teams another time around. The pitcher has the advantage usually in the first matchup, but major league hitters will make adjustments the second and third times they face him. It also will be interesting to see how he handles lineups that are little more threatening than the likes of the Pirates and Indians.
Until then, Strasburg likely will keep impressing everyone who will continue to watch his every move. Two starts in, he’s certainly impressing his peers.
Indians pitcher Kerry Wood, no stranger to the hype surrounding a young pitching phenom, liked what he saw from the 21-year-old right-hander.
“It was obviously a lot of hype for a good reason,” Wood said in an article on MLB.com. “He’s got tremendous stuff. For a guy like that to have that kind of command, it’s pretty impressive.”
While baseball fans hope Strasburg continues to dazzle, the Nationals hope he continues do something he’s done in his first two starts – win.
