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Game 4 of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs was postponed on Tuesday and moved to 3:08 p.m. on Wednesday. With that change in the schedule, the Nationals received a gift from mother nature, as the rain in Chicago now gives Dusty Baker the option to start Stephen Strasburg in Game 4.
Tanner Roark was scheduled to make the start on Tuesday for Washington, but now Strasburg can start on Wednesday on normal rest after pitching in Game 1 last Friday. In the series-opener against the Cubs, Strasburg allowed three hits and a walk, while striking out 10 hitters. He surrendered two unearned runs and also had a no-hitter through 5.2 innings before back-to-back singles by Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
Strasburg was by far more dominant in seven innings than Max Scherzer was in Game 3, when he had a no-hitter through six innings.
Obviously there’s no guarantee the Cubs beat Roark, but there’s a better chance they do than beat Strasburg again.
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BUT WAIT! IS THAT DUSTY BAKER’S MUSIC?!?!?!?!
Dusty Baker sticking with Tanner Roark for game 4 tomorrow at 3:08.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 10, 2017
IN DUSTY WE TRUSTY!
Stephen Strasburg is feeling under the weather so the Nationals will hold him back for a potential Game 5. Dusty… https://t.co/KOtTe358xo
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) October 10, 2017
Hopefully Strasburg has plenty of time to recover from his illness after the Cubs knock out the Nationals on Wednesday.
Jake Arrieta will start Game 4 for the Cubs.
UPDATE:
We have reached peak Dusty.
Bizarre presser. Dusty talking about mold in Chicago and air condition at the hotel. Nats have to switch hotels btw
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) October 10, 2017
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!
Funny thing about him blaming the mold is that Strasburg threw a bullpen on Tuesday to get ready to pitch on Thursday, when the regularly scheduled Game 5 would be, so that’s the actual reason he can’t pitch Wednesday.
Dusty said Strasburg did throw a bullpen today in anticipation of starting Thursday. So by time game was called, couldn't pitch tomorrow.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) October 10, 2017
Oh, this is so Dusty it hurts.
UPDATE:
The Nationals are saying Dusty misspoke and that Strasburg threw on Monday.
The Nationals say Dusty misspoke, Strasburg threw a bullpen yesterday. But he is under the weather and his endurance is down.
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) October 10, 2017
So, I guess he is sticking to blaming the mold. Which is also hilarious.
