Strasburg to make season debut Thursday

MIAMI -- Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will make his season debut on Thursday against the Marlins at loanDepot park, Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced Tuesday.

Strasburg has not pitched in a Major League game since June 1, 2021, and he underwent thoracic outlet surgery in late July.

“[Strasburg] said he felt good, so he’s going to open up for us on Thursday,” Martinez said pregame. “I’m not going to put any limitations on him. We’ll see how far we can take him. We’ll keep a close eye on him, but this is one of the reasons why we wanted him to go through what he did and to make sure that he’s fully ready.”

After rehabbing at the Nats’ training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., the 33-year-old began a Minor League rehab assignment last month. Among the goals: hone in on mechanics and work through in-game adjustments. Strasburg made two starts with Single-A Fredericksburg and one with Triple-A Rochester. In between outings, he rejoined the Nationals to throw bullpen sessions.

Following Strasburg’s last start with the Red Wings on Friday -- in which he tossed 83 pitches, allowed one hit and struck out four across six scoreless innings -- he told Martinez he was ready to return.

“It’s awesome,” Martinez said. “He’s our guy, right? Everybody knows that. It’ll be a little uplifting for the guys knowing that he’s pitching on Thursday.”

Thursday marks an important milestone for the pitcher, who has been limited to just 26 2/3 innings since going 5-0 in the 2019 postseason and being named World Series MVP. He threw only five innings in 2020 before being shut down for season-ending carpal tunnel surgery on his right hand.

“It’s definitely a little bit more of a challenge when you get older,” Strasburg said recently. “It’s not so much an age thing as much as all the surgeries I’ve already had. It’s learning to work with what you’ve got at this point.”

Martinez is optimistic Strasburg could reach the target of 20 starts this season. His approach in managing Strasburg’s appearances is “one pitch at a time and see where he’s at.” There is an open spot in the rotation for Thursday, and beyond that, he doesn’t want the other pitchers to get caught up in the long-term domino effect.

“Some of those decisions that we make later on are really not in their hands,” Martinez said. “The last thing I want them to think about is, is there somebody else coming up behind them? We all know how this game is and those things do happen, but I just want them to go out there and compete and fight as hard as they can to help us win games.”

Looking to do the same, Strasburg will return to the mound with a record of 113-61 and a 3.21 ERA over 12 seasons.

“I told him, ‘For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you,’” Martinez said. “‘I know this has been a difficult time for you, but you worked your butt off to get back. Just go out there and have fun.’”