Kansas City @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2010 ) Kansas City 3, Washington 4
For a few hours on Wednesday afternoon, the city of Washington, D.C. will put aside the many problems facing the city and the country and focus on something really important - Stephen Strasburg.
The right-handed phenom will be looking to continue his historic start when the Washington Nationals close out a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals.
Strasburg has brought out big crowds in each of his first three career starts and has treated the mass of fans to exactly what they came for - domination. The 21-year-old has a record 32 strikeouts through his first 19 1/3 innings, allowing a total of four runs and 10 hits in the process.
Minor control problems resulted in five walks against the Cleveland Indians on June 13, but Strasburg earned the win in that outing and did not issue a walk in either of his other two starts. He struck out 10 in seven innings over the weekend at Chicago, allowing a run on four hits in a no-decision.
The top overall pick in the 2009 draft, some have referred to the San Diego native as the best pitching prospect ever. A quick trip through two levels of the minors, resulting in a 7-2 record and a 1.30 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings, did nothing to dampen the hype.
Criticized in some circles for not promoting Strasburg right away this season, the Washington brass has looked brilliant so far, breaking the phenom in against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, who are a combined 35 games under .500. The Royals fit right in line, entering today 14 games under .500 after dropping the first two games of the series.
At 6-4 and 220 pounds, Strasburg has the build to be an innings-eater down the road, but he will have his innings monitored closely this season as the Nationals attempt to protect their $15 million investment. At his current pace, Strasburg will probably reach his limit in late August or early September.
Facing far less pregame scrutiny will be Kansas City starter Brian Bannister. The struggling right-hander has put together two straight terrible starts, allowing 16 runs - 14 earned - and 17 hits in seven total innings while suffering losses at Atlanta and Cincinnati.
The 29-year-old had won five straight starts prior to the two losses, allowing three runs or less in each of the five outings. Interleague play has not been kind to Bannister historically, with the Arizona native owning a 7-7 record with a 5.28 ERA in 15 starts.
He will be facing a Washington lineup that is beginning to emerge from a lengthy slump. Ryan Zimmerman posted his first multi-hit game since June 8 in Tuesday’s 4-3 win while Josh Willingham added three extra-base hits and Adam Dunn snapped an 0-for-14 skid with his 17th homer of the season.