Stephen Strasburg, theoretically, is facing an ideal opponent to start the season a couple of weeks late, as Baltimore recently dropped four straight games to the Miami Marlins. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals' Stephen Strasburg will make season debut on Sunday

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/7/20

Washington starter and three-time All-Star Stephen Strasburg will make his regular-season debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park.

As noted by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the 2019 World Series Most Valuable Player missed what should've been his first two starts of the campaign due to a nerve problem in his right hand.

Manager Dave Martinez told reporters on Friday that the 32-year-old has been cleared to return to the bump.

"The tingling in his thumb is gone, and that's a good sign," Martinez said. "We watched him and he's throwing some really good bullpens. That was the big thing for me: Nothing in his mechanics has changed. Everything's good."

Martinez added that Strasburg will be on a pitch count on Sunday.

"We're going to watch him. If he gives us 75-80 pitches, that'd be awesome," the skipper said. "But we'll keep an eye on him."

Strasburg, theoretically, is facing an ideal opponent to start the season a couple of weeks late, as Baltimore recently dropped four straight games to the Miami Marlins.