Stephen Strasburg gave up seven hits, four walks, and three earned runs last time on the mound before tonight, in a 5 2⁄3-inning outing against the Cincinnati Reds, earning his 15th win of the season in a 17-7 game.
“It was definitely a grind out there,” Strasburg told reporters after the win, “and kind of all over the place with some pitches. Team came out swinging today, so they picked me up.”
In his last three starts before going up against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the recently-turned 31-year-old right-hander had an 8.