Stephen Strasburg looks ready for April, but Drew Storen seems stuck in October.
Strasburg threw more than 90 pitches in his fifth spring start (93, 64 for strikes to be exact), surrendering a solo HR to former teammate Rick Ankiel to account for the lone run he gave up over five and a 1/3rd innings. He allowed five hits total, walked one and struck out eight.
Storen, on the other hand, continues to struggle this spring. He was touched for three runs on four hits and a walk in the 8th, blowing his second save and taking his first loss. In seven appearances, he’s has just one clean inning and only two where he hasn’t given up a hit.
Perhaps it’s reminiscent of March 2011 (2.294 WHIP in 11&⅓ IP vs. 1.857 in 7), but it’ll be something to watch over the next two weeks. Given manager Davey Johnson’s proclamation that it’s time for the relievers to start working every other day, that leaves Storen roughly five more appearances until Opening Day.
Meanwhile, as I feel like the high school kids playing the 4:30 p.m. game before the 7 p.m. main event, we’re approaching the end of our spring training coverage as the MLB starters and reserves begin to play deeper into the games in favor of the minor-leaguers. Just four notables made it into yesterday’s contest:
- CF Corey Brown, 0-1
- RF Carlos Rivero, 0-0, E(1)
- PR-SS Zach Walters, 0-1, K
- 1B Chris Marrero, 0-1
For the second straight Sunday, the Nats take a trip to Lakeland to visit the Tigers. Ross Detwiler is expected to pitch in place of Gio Gonzalez this afternoon. The game can be heard on MLB Audio with the Detroit radio feed.