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Don’t burn your Stephen Strasburg No. 37 shirsey or jersey just yet, Nationals fans.
After twenty-four-ish hours of everyone in baseball questioning the 29-year-old’s intestinal fortitude, guts, cajones, how ever you want to put it, and after it was announced that he was under the weather and thus not going to start in Game 4 of the NLDS even after it postponed by rain last night, allowing him to possibly pitch on regular rest today, it appears that Washington’s 2009 No. 1 overall pick might just start against the Chicago Cubs this afternoon after all...
Your prayers worked, Nats fans!
[ed. note - “You were praying for him to recover from his flu-like symptoms, right? And not just pushing the “75 and sunny” or “hothouse flower” narratives, right?”]
According to reports from both Jon Morosi, of the MLB Network, and Fanrag’s Jon Heyman, Strasburg just might take the mound today in Wrigley Field:
Could Strasburg still pitch today? Scott Boras just told me: “He was ill yesterday, but — health dependent — I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 11, 2017
Just spoke by phone with Scott Boras, who said Stephen Strasburg had flulike symptoms yesterday. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 11, 2017
Boras stressed #Nats are making this decision, not Strasburg; Boras said Strasburg still could be available today depending on his health.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 11, 2017
BREAKING: Stephen Strasburg now likely to start for #Nats today in Game 4, source says. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 11, 2017
strasburg will pitch today if he's well enough. scott boras: "You saw him in Game 1. Why wouldn't he want to be out there?"
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 11, 2017
Source: Stephen Strasburg now expected to start Game 4 for the #Nats. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 11, 2017
Are the Nationals playing three-dimensional chess with us all? Was this all subterfuge?
GM Mike Rizzo addressed the possibility of Strasburg starting today — after Stras had reportedly told the Nationals on Tuesday that he was under the weather but able to go and give the team everything he had... or declined to pitch depending on your source.
Rizzo did, however, tell 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies that he could, in theory pitch in the game if he shows up feeling better from the flu-like symptoms he was experiencing.
Asked if he could make the switch if Strasburg came to the park and said he could go, Rizzo said of course.
“Legally you could make the switch,” Rizzo said. “I don’t anticipate that happening, but legally yeah, you could.”
It might just be happening. Hold on to your butts:
#Nats haven't ruled out possibility Strasburg starts today, per source. Still being decided. (@jonmorosi was 1st to report)
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) October 11, 2017
There is, indeed, a chance Strasburg starts Game 4 today, according to person familiar with Nats thinking. @jonmorosi mentioned first.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) October 11, 2017
Dusty Baker is set to talk to reporters soon. Strasburg was set to talk to reporters as of last night, since he was expected to be the Game 5 starter, but as of this morning, MLB sent out notes that said “TBD” in the spot for the Nationals’ player who will talk to the media.
While the understandable assumption at first was that the right-hander was just trying avoid the media firestorm, maybe, just maybe, there’s another reason for the change...
Word from Nats side is there's a possibility. Word from person close to Strasburg is that they now expect him to start.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) October 11, 2017