Stephen Strasburg did not look right Friday night. The Giants hit his normally untouchable fastballs all over the park. He fidgeted with his shoulder. He landed funny. After he allowed three runs on five hits in two innings, Strasburg marched down the tunnel to the clubhouse and trainer Paul Lessard followed. Whatever Strasburg told him, the Nationals decided he could not continue. The right-hander’s night ended there. Shawn Kelley relieved him.
Strasburg’s velocity was fine — high-90s, touched 98. His curveball and change-up both looked normal. At one point, he threw a fastball high and wide and a ball 55 feet in succession. He surrendered several line drives after that, unable to locate with any precision.
Strasburg has a long history of injury buildups just like this one. When he fidgets, he feels something. When he gets hit, he is not right. Strasburg had been doing both of those, to a lesser extent than Friday, for weeks. Perhaps this is a new problem. But whatever it is, the Nationals will not say until after the game. They do not give injury updates during play. This post will be updated when they have.