Strasburg Strains Oblique, How Do Nats Replace Him?

During the stretch run of the 2012 season, the Washington Nationals were faced with a choice. One year removed from Tommy John surgery, the team had to decide whether or not to shut down Stephen Strasburg early and protect his future, or utilize their ace in order to push for a World Series run.The Nats chose the former, feeling that Strasburg's long-term future with the team was worth more than a fleeting World Series run. Unfortunately, the team was unable to rally without him, blowing a 2-0 series lead in the National League Divisional Series to the St. Louis Cardinals and being dropped out of the first round of the playoffs.With a full season of Strasburg expected in 2013, the expectations were obviously high for Washington and a World Series run was predicted. However, expectations and reality took a very different road and the Nationals have struggled , sitting just a game above .500 and a 4.5 games behind first place Atlanta.Now is obviously not the time that they would want to lose Strasburg to an injury.The 24-year-old ace left Friday's start against the aforementioned Braves with what the Washington Post has reported is a strained oblique muscle. While it is a bit of a relief that the injury isn't to his pitching arm, as first reported, it still means the Nationals will be without their ace for possibly 3-4 weeks.That puts Washington in a tough position. The Nationals are already without fellow starter Ross Detwiler, who is also out with a strained oblique, until mid-June. They currently have Nate Karns called up from Double-A and filling in for Detwiler, but outside of Karns, the team has very little ready talent in the minor leagues.So who do they fall back on to fill Strasburg's spot?Ross OhlendorfThe 30-year-old right-handed journeyman has been pitching at Triple-A Syracuse to the tune of a 4-5 record and a 4.32 ERA. The former Yankee, Pirate, and Padre has a career mark of 18-32 with a 5.32 ERA at the Major League level over the course of 108 appearances (73 starts). He'd be the most likely candidate to step in, but he's no one's idea of a good alternative.Daniel RosenbaumThe 25-year-old left-hander has never pitched at the Major League level, but he's throwing particularly well at Triple-A in 2013. Through 10 starts, Rosenbaum holds a 5-3 record and a 3.54 ERA. However, he's also mustering a pedestrian 5.3 K/9 ratio and his control has been suspect with 4.2 BB/9.Chien-Ming WangWang didn't have a very celebrated turn his first time through the Nationals organization, struggling in 2012 with a 2-3 record and a 6.68 ERA over 10 appearances (5 starts). The former stand-out starter has struggled with injuries over the last few seasons and turned into a reclamation project, currently pitching in the Yankees organization and sporting a 3-4 record and 2.65 ERA over 8 starts at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Wang had an opt-out clause in his contract which he could have exercised on Friday, but didn't because there were no teams willing to offer him a Major League contract. However, with Washington now having a bona fide need, Wang could represent a trade possibility, albeit a long-shot.
Source:http://baseballbigbrotherproject.blogspot.com/2013/06/strasburg-strains-oblique-how-do-nats.html

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