MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
Stephen Strasburg is tentatively scheduled to make his next start next Tuesday against the Marlins, assuming his simulated game goes well on Thursday and there are no further issues with his inflamed right shoulder. He's thrown 109 2/3 innings this year. Add a couple to that total for his simulated game on Thursday.
Assuming he makes that start, the Nationals still let him finish the year with around 160 professional innings, and he goes around six innings a start, here's what his schedule would look like the rest of the year:
8/10 vs. Florida
8/15 vs. Arizona
8/21 at Philadelphia
8/26 vs. St. Louis
8/31 at Florida
9/6 vs. New York
9/12 vs. Florida
9/18 at Philadelphia
Now, a couple of things stand out about that updated schedule. Here's the one that is the most intriguing to me: Strasburg would make two starts in Philadelphia.
I know how NatsTown feels about the Phillies, but I've been looking forward to seeing Strasburg's name on a list of probable starters for a series at Citizens Bank Park since he came to the majors. It'll be the most hostile environment he's ever pitched in, by far, and besides giving us a good sense of how Strasburg handles that kind of a crowd, it'll be a lot of fun.
He'd also face the Marlins three more times, and make five more home starts, three of them during day games (8/15, 9/6 and 9/12).
The requisite disclaimers: There is no guarantee Strasburg's shoulder will hold up through that many starts, or they won't push him back again after the simulated game.
But that's how things would line up right now, in an optimal sense. And when I say optimal, I do mean with him pitching in Philly.
