Strasburg Roughed up in Third Rehab Start

Stephen Strasburg's third rehab start was one he'd like to forget. Back with Class A Hagerstown, for whom he made his first rehab start, Strasburg took the mound against the Lexington Legends and was unable to get through two innings of work. Whereas in his last start with Advanced A Potomac, he didn't allow a ball to be hit of the infield in 3 innings, he surrendered three doubles in just an inning and two thirds yesterday. His final line - 1 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He ended up throwing 49 pitches, his longest outing of his rehab in terms of work, but threw only 59% strikes compared to 81% and 79% in his first two outings. Still, the important thing as far as Nationals fans isn't the fact that Strasburg has sported a 16.20 earned run average in two starts for Hagerstown, but rather the fact that their young phenom is still on track to pitch with the Nats this season. Strasburg is expected to make three more minor league starts before hopefully returning to the majors in September.

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