Nationals GM denies report about Strasburg shutdown
The most controversial subject involving the Washington Nationals was addressed again on Friday.
Yahoo! Sports reported that the Nats would shut down Stephen Strasburg when he gets to 180 innings. But GM Mike Rizzo, when talking to the media before the series opener with the Diamondbacks, said there is no official limit the team has decided on.
Rizzo told The Washington Post and several other media outlets that he will make the decision to shut down Strasburg -- working in his first full season back after Tommy John surgery -- when the GM feels it's the best time.
Strasburg went six innings in Friday's 9-1 win over the Diamondbacks, and that pushed his innings total to 133 1/3. There has been lots of speculation that the shut-down number will be somewhere around 160, and Strasburg's getting closer to it.
The Nationals are looking at making sure they have Strasburg for a long time, not just a season or two. That's why they've been talking about limiting the right-hander for a while.
Right now, about the only things known for sure are that they are going to shut down Strasburg, and it's likely going to be at some point in early or mid-September.
