What on earth is going on with Stephen Strasburg?
There are three possibilities, really: 1) The Washington Nationals pitcher can flush the flu out of his system at a blistering rate, 2) he’s capable of channeling Michael Jordan and pitching with the illness, or 3) he wants to stick it to guys like David Ross and Mark Teixeira who questioned his toughness.
In any event, Strasburg — not Tanner Roark — will start Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.
The Nats face elimination Wednesday at Wrigley Field, as they trail the Cubs 2-1 in the NLDS. Despite being on full rest, Strasburg initially elected to not pitch the pivotal Game 4 because, according to Nats manager Dusty Baker, the right-hander was feeling “under the weather” Tuesday.
Oh, how things can change in less than 24 hours.
Wow.
Jon Morosi began indicating Wednesday morning that Strasburg actually might start Game 4, and it since has been announced that he’ll indeed take the ball in Chicago.
Say what you want about Strasburg, but it’s never a good idea to criticize someone before you know the full extent of his or her given illness or injury.
Still, it’s easy to understand why Nats fans were so frustrated, as the team hasn’t gotten out of the first round of the playoffs since 1981 — when the franchise was known as the Montreal Expos.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports Images
