The 2016 MLB season is winding down in the next few days, and some teams are getting ready for the postseason.
One of the confirmed matches on the National League side for a Divisional series will see the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Washington Nationals. It seems that the Dodgers may have caught a break, according to the Washington Post. Mike Rizzo, General Manager of the Washington Nationals, is now saying that it is unlikely that Stephen Strasburg will pitch at all in the NLDS.
He played catch at 90 feet on Tuesday at the Nationals Park. He is currently recovering from a strained flexor mass, and the Nationals don’t feel he will be ready to go for the National League Divisional Series against the Dodgers. As Rizzo was talking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, he said, “ I think it would be kind of pushing it.”
This happens to be the closest that the Nationals would come to announcing that the 28-year-old pitcher is out for the NLDS, which happens to begin on October 6th. They were holding out a lot of hope that he would be available in some capacity for the first round. It should be noted that he hasn’t pitched off a mound since he exited his start on September 7th against the Braves with an elbow injury.
Since the Nationals won’t have him for the NLDS and barring any other injuries to their pitchers, they are looking to have Max Scherzer, Tanner Roark, Gio Gonzalez, and Joe Ross. Also on Tuesday after the news came out on Strasburg, Manger Dusty Baker said he would prefer not to have Scherzer start Game 4, if necessary, on short rest after his Game 1 start. It is not confirmed that he will be starting Game 1, but it seems very likely.
The playoffs begin next week with the two wild card games. Then the Divisional Series round will begin towards the end of next week.