While some fans and media members fretted Monday and for much of Tuesday about the Washington Nationals’ delay in naming a starting pitcher for that night’s opener of a much-anticipated series, Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves knew since Sunday it would be Stephen Strasburg.
Gonzalez said the Nationals told him Sunday that Strasburg would come off the disabled list to start Tuesday night. “Just to give us a heads-up,” he said.
The Nationals did not want the information to get out, which is not entirely uncommon in such a situation. Teams sometimes prefer their own players not know when the team is going to activate someone from the disabled list, since it leaves some players to wonder if their roster spot is safe or if one of them might be the one being sent down to open a spot.
The Nationals optioned rookie right-hander Joe Ross to Triple-A Syracuse, after he’d gone 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in three starts, with 23 strikeouts and two walks in 20 1/3 innings. Ross and Braves right-hander Matt Wisler, who’ll make his second start Thursday, were two of the Padres’ top four prospects before both got traded, Ross during the winter and Wisler in the Craig Kimbrel trade the night before opening day.
While many wondered if the Nationals were using gamesmanship to keep the Braves guessing, Gonzalez made out his lineup card with the understand that Strasburg would be facing them. Alex Wood was the Braves’ scheduled starter for Tuesday’s game, which was delayed at the start by stormy weather including rains and high winds.
The Nationals didn’t announce Strasburg would pitch until Tuesday afternoon, about 3 1/2 hours before the originally scheduled starting time.
Strasburg had been out for 21 games due to neck tightness. He was 3-5 with a bloated 6.55 ERA and .325 opponents’ average in 10 starts before going on the DL May 30.
In 17 career starts against the Braves, Strasburg was 4-7 with a 4.24 ERA and 11 homers allowed in 87 innings.
