Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post lays out the Nationals’ pitching plans for the remainder of the season and it looks like Stephen Strasburg’s fourth and final start will come Friday against the Braves.
If he stayed on a normal rest schedule Strasburg would then be lined up to start the season finale on September 28, but according to Kilgore the Nationals will probably go with Brad Peacock instead.
Because the 162nd game is on the road there’s no temptation for the Nationals to let Strasburg send the fans off with a good memory of 2011, but right now the rotation plans are merely in pencil anyway.
Through three starts Strasburg has a 1.29 ERA and 11/0 K/BB ratio in 14 innings while averaging 95.9 miles per hour with his fastball. He’s been limited to around 60 pitches in all three outings as he builds back arm strength following Tommy John elbow surgery 12 months ago.