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Nats to Shut Down Strasburg on September 12

By Nate A.
August 5, 2012;Washington D. C., USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws a pitch during the game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE
August 5, 2012;Washington D. C., USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws a pitch during the game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

The Washington Nationals will shut down ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg following his September 12 start against the New York Mets at Citi Field, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com:

Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced Sunday that Stephen Strasburg's last game of the 2012 season will be Sept. 12 against the Mets at Citi Field. Strasburg will not pitch in the postseason...

The plan to shut down Strasburg has been in place since last year.

While it was known for some time that Strasburg's final start of the season was looming, no set date had been given. The September 12 end date means that Strasburg has just two starts remaining, his penultimate start coming Friday at home against the Marlins.

There has been no shortage of speculation as to whether the Nats are making the correct decision by shutting down the 24-year-old phenom, who is in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. In our poll last Friday, you voted overwhelmingly that the Nationals should have limited Strasburg's innings so that he could start for the postseason.

The league leader in strikeouts pitched masterfully again last night, throwing six scoreless innings and striking out nine in a victory over the Cardinals. In twenty-seven starts on the season, Strasburg owns a 2.94 ERA and 11.23 K/9 in one hundred fifty-six and a third innings.

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