Strasburg Excels at AAA

After 4 rehab starts in A-Ball, Stephen Strasburg made his AAA debut tonight and didn't disappoint. Strasburg retired the first 15 hitters he faced before finally surrendering back to back singles to start the 6th. He was removed following the second base hit after having thrown 64 pitches, 47 of them for strikes. His final line: 5+ innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts in what was easily his best performance thus far. Strasburg's fastball topped out at 98 miles an hour and the Rochester Redwings lineup, the AAA farm team for the Twins, was completely overmatched.

Photo Credit: nationalsdailynews.com

Strasburg has now thrown 14 1/3 innings over 5 rehab starts. He's allowed 8 runs on 13 hits, allowing opposing hitters to bat just .224 and he has 25 strikeouts against just 3 walks. Strasburg will likely make one final minor league rehab start, this time for AA Harrisburg on September 1st and as of right now he appears to be on track to debut for the Nationals on or about the 6th of September. If that's the case he should debut at home against the Dodgers.