Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals: Grapefruit League GameThread

Two of Stephen Strasburg’s four starts this Spring have been against the same St. Louis Cardinals he faces this afternoon in the next-to-last game in Florida for the Washington Nationals before they head to D.C. for two exhibition games and next Monday’s season opener in the nation’s capital.

In those two outings against the Cards, Strasburg has allowed eight hits and six earned runs in four innings.

Overall on the Spring, the Nationals’ Opening Day starter has put up a 7.30 ERA (10 ER in 15 ¹⁄₃ IP), giving up two walks and striking out 12, with hitters posting a .306 AVG against him in Grapefruit League action.

Last time out, Strasburg went 4 ¹⁄₃ innings against the Miami Marlins he’ll face next Monday in Washington.

He gave up four hits, a walk and two earned runs, striking out three of the 18 batters he faced.

That was his last start in a Grapefruit League game. His last time out on the mound was in a minor league game that allowed the Nationals to more carefully manage his work.

Dusty Baker announced Strasburg as the Opening Day starter over the weekend.

The right-hander said he hoped to get things off to a good start in the first game of the season.

“It’s Game 1 of 162 and hopefully some change,” Strasburg told reporters, as quoted by Washington Post beat writer Chelsea Janes, “...so I’ll go out there and hopefully get this season started on the right foot.”

Before that, however, he has one more start in Florida in today’s 12:05 PM EDT game against the Cardinals.

Here’s the lineup that will back Strasburg up and take on Cards’ starter Michael Wacha:

NOTE: Today’s game is available via MLB.com’s GameDay audio at 12:05 from Jupiter, FL’s Roger Dead Stadium, and it’s the Cards feed.