Corbin opens NLDS; Stras in mix for Game 2?
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LOS ANGELES -- The Nationals have not yet settled on a starter for Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Friday, but manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Stephen Strasburg remains in the mix for that spot.
• NLDS presented by Utz, Game 1: Tonight, 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 PT on TBS
Strasburg’s availability hinges on how he recovers from his first career relief appearance in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Game. Strasburg fired 34 pitches over three scoreless innings, serving as a crucial bridge between Max Scherzer and closer Daniel Hudson.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 3 | LAD 6, WSH 0 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 4 | WSH 4, LAD 2 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 6 | LAD 10, WSH 4 | Watch |
| Gm 4 | Oct. 7 | WSH 6, LAD 1 | Watch |
| Gm 5 | Oct. 9 | WSH 7, LAD 3 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: “Obviously, it's going to be a quick turnaround,” Martinez said Wednesday. “I would just want to give him a day to regroup. We just got off a flight, so we want to see how he feels.”
Left-hander Patrick Corbin is slated to make his postseason debut and start Game 1 for the Nationals on Thursday. Martínez said he doesn’t expect the outcome of the series opener to have much of a bearing on the Nats’ subsequent rotation plans.
“We'll see,” Martínez said. “Obviously, Stephen threw the ball well yesterday for us. We have other options. So we'll see how it transpires over the next day.”
If Strasburg isn’t ready for Game 2, the Nationals will likely turn to veteran Aníbal Sánchez instead. Sánchez hasn’t pitched for Washington since Sept. 25, but he was a steady contributor in the rotation during the regular season, posting a 3.85 ERA over 166 innings. Another factor to keep in mind: If the Nats opt to deploy Strasburg on Friday, they could also bring him back on normal rest in a potential Game 5 next week.
Scherzer, who gave up three runs over five innings against the Brewers, remains in line to pitch Game 3 on regular rest.