Chicago Cubs: Stephen Strasburg will start NLDS against Cubs

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg

As the Chicago Cubs get set to take on the Washington Nationals in the NLDS Friday night, we now know they will go up against Stephen Strasburg.

While the Chicago Cubs know how their starting rotation will start the NLDS against the host Washington Nationals, we finally know who will start for Washington.

Stephen Strasburg has been tabbed by manager Dusty Baker to start the series for the Nationals, as Max Scherzer is dealing with hamstring discomfort from his final regular-season start last Saturday against Pittsburgh.

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For the 29-year-old Strasburg, Friday will mark just his second career postseason start. His last came in 2014 in Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants. In that game, he pitched five innings, allowed two runs, one earned, in an eventual Giants victory.

Though it’s been three seasons since then, you know Strasburg will be ready.

During the regular-season, he went 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA over 28 starts. It’s his most starts since he made 34 in 2014. Strasburg was fourth in ML for ERA and just one point behind Scherzer.

How they did

What you’re probably wondering is how the Cubs have stacked up against the veteran.

Chicago only faced Strasburg once in 2017, and it was a gem for the right-hander. On June 28 in the Nation’s Capital, Strasburg threw seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned and striking out 13. He walked just one in the Nats’ 8-4 win.

We know the Cubs will have a different lineup set to face Strasburg than the last time the two squared off. On the 28th, Anthony Rizzo was leading off when the Cubs entered that matchup. As we await how Maddon sets his lineup here are numbers against Strasburg.

Stephen Strasburg vs Chicago Cubs

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Kyle Schwarber has not faced Strasburg yet in his career. The Nationals have yet to officially set their starters beyond Game 1.