Nationals hand Game 1 assignment to Strasburg
The Washington Nationals have decided on their Game 1 starter and he goes by the name Stephen Strasburg.
Washington made the announcement Thursday, one day before it squares off against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series.
Strasburg will duel Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks in the series opener.
Strasburg earned his third All-Star appearance during a regular season in which he posted a 15-4 record with a 2.52 ERA across 28 starts. He struck out 10.5 hitters per nine innings and fashioned a 1.02 WHIP.
The Nationals continue to wait on answers regarding the health of Max Scherzer - who is dealing with a tweaked hamstring - before they announce the rest of the rotation, according to MLB.com's Jamal Collier.
Scherzer is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday.
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will reportedly start Game 2, MASN's Mark Zuckerman reports, citing a source familiar with the decision.