Signs point to Strasburg over Scherzer for Nats in Game 1

WASHINGTON » Stephen Strasburg’s relationship with the postseason always has been complicated. Still is, in a way. For all of his regular-season excellence since the Washington Nationals made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft — the 14-strikeout debut, the 84-45 career record, the 3.07 ERA — Strasburg has thrown all of five playoff innings for a team that has won four of the past six NL East titles.

“The talent and the way he throws the ball and the way he knows how to pitch and the way he competes has always been one of the best,” first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said Tuesday after the team’s NL Division Series workout at Nationals Park. “It’s just a matter of him being able to stay on the mound.”

Strasburg’s lone postseason appearance came in 2014. Otherwise, there was the infamous shutdown in 2012, and an arm injury last year. This time around, Strasburg is healthy. The question is when he’ll be on the mound against the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs: Game 1 on Friday? Or Game 2 on Saturday?

“We really haven’t decided exactly,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. “We have a couple days to decide.”

The extenuating factor is reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer’s health. He tweaked his right hamstring in his final regular-season start and says that while he can run and lift weights with that leg, a full throwing motion hurts. So while Strasburg tossed a bullpen session off a mound Tuesday — the sort of thing he normally would do two or three days before a start — Scherzer was limited to throwing in the outfield grass.

Scherzer plans to test his leg in a bullpen session Wednesday.

“We really haven’t determined what game we’re eyeing yet. The first and foremost thing is just making sure that whenever I do take the ball, I’m able to go out there and compete the way I’m able to compete,” Scherzer said.