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Stephen Strasburg named Washington Nationals' Opening Day starter

By The Sports Xchange
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 3 | Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will get the Opening Day start for the Washington Nationals, manager Dusty Baker announced Sunday.

Washington opens the season on April 3 at Nationals Park against the Miami Marlins.

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It will be the 28-year-old Strasburg's fourth Opening Day start but his first since 2014. In his previous starts to open the season from 2012-14, he struck out 18 in 20 innings while leading the Nationals to wins in all three games.

Strasburg won his first 13 decisions in 2016 but a partially torn tendon in his forearm caused his seventh trip to the disabled list and limited him to 24 starts. He finished his seventh major league season with a 15-4 record and 3.60 ERA in 147 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Max Scherzer was the Nationals' Opening Day starter the previous two seasons but the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner missed time this spring because of a stress fracture in his right ring finger.

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