Strasburg will pitch in Game 4 against the Cubs, Nationals announce

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Division Series, at Nationals Park, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Washington Nationals’ Tanner Roark pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker smiles from the dugout before Game 3 of the National League Division Series baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ground crew cover the infield before Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Ground crew cover the infield before Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper takes batting practice before Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series baseball game against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman tags out Chicago Cubs’ Jon Jay during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series baseball game Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
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WASHINGTON — Stephen Strasburg will take to the pitching mound for Wednesday night’s must-win Game 4 of the National League playoffs against the Chicago Cubs after all.

After a rain delay, questions about Strasburg’s health and a firestorm of social media reaction to the news that Tanner Roark would be taking over pitching duties, the Nationals announced Strasburg would start as pitcher in Wednesday night’s game.

After the official team announcement shortly before 1 p.m., Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Dusty Baker briefed reporters about the decision.

Baker said Strasburg came to him Wednesday and told him, “I want the ball.” (The night before Baker said Strasburg wouldn’t be pitching in the rescheduled game because he was feeling “under the weather.”

Strasburg wasn’t pressured by anyone and is about “90 percent well,” Baker said. He said the team will treat it like a normal start.

Game 4 of the National League Division Series, with Tanner Roark as starting pitcher, was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed because of rain. With the bad weather creating an extra day in the series, Strasburg was thought to be an option to start Game 4.

However, Baker at first quashed fan hopes Tuesday evening when he said Strasburg was still not feeling well enough to pitch in the rescheduled game.

“You know, a lot of my team is under the weather with the change of weather and the air conditioning in the hotel, and the air conditioning here,” Baker said. “This is the time of year for mold around Chicago. I think it’s mold because I have it, too.”

Asked Wednesday, Baker said when he left the Chicago ball park Tuesday night he was planning on starting Roark as pitcher. The “thing about baseball, things are subject to change,” Baker said.

Fans were not happy about the decision to start Roark, given that the rain delay gave Strasburg an extra day of rest before the game. Many took to social media to vent their frustrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson is Senior Sports Director and morning sports anchor. He first arrived at WTOP in 1989, left in 1992 and returned in 1995. He is a three-time winner of the A.I.R. award as best radio sportscaster in D.C. In 2008 he won the Edward R. Murrow award for best writing for sports commentaries.

Jack Moore

Jack Moore joined WTOP.com as a digital writer/editor in July 2016. Previous to his current role, he covered federal government management and technology as the news editor at Nextgov.com, part of Government Executive Media Group.

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