Stephen Strasburg was unbeaten over an eight-outing stretch between June 21st and July 28th, posting a 2.22 ERA, 10 walks, 53 Ks, and a .205/.267/.295 line against in 44 2⁄3 IP, but heading into Wednesday afternoon’s series finale with the Cincinnati Reds in the nation’s capital, the 31-year-old right-hander was winless in his previous two outings (0-1, 9.26 ERA, 4 BB, 13 Ks, .271/.327/.646 in 11 2/3).
The ‘09 No. 1 overall pick gave up nine hits and nine runs in 4 2⁄3 IP on the road in Arizona’s Chase Field, then gave up four hits and three runs in New York’s Citi Field, taking a loss in the game against the D-backs and receiving no decision in Washington’s loss to the Mets in the first game of the series with the Nationals’ NL East rivals this past weekend.