Diamond Cuts.

With another Stephen Strasburg start on the horizon, it's time for another Stephen Strasburg Update.

Well, I can't say it enough, every time Strasburg takes the mound, he gives the Nationals a chance to win. He pitched brilliantly against the Braves, but came out early and was handed his second loss.

Strasburg got hit hard in the first inning, made his pitches and worked around a couple of baserunners. Quickly thereafter he found a groove against Braves hitters, striking out five in a row through spotless fifth and sixth innings.

It's the seventh inning that doomed Strasburg this time out. A lead off walk, a bloop single and a fielding error that could have turned into a double play, lead to the bases being loaded and no one being out. A sac-fly and a single later and the Braves were up 2-0. At this point, it's my opinion that Strasburg made an early exit. With stuff like his, Jim Riggleman should have let him get out of the inning. Chances are, all Strasburg would need is six pitches and he would strike out the next two batters and the Nationals would be down 2-0. Instead, Sean Burnett comes in and allows a bunt single to Gregor Blanco and an infield single to Omar Infante. Now down 4-0, Drew Storen comes in to get the final two outs. But before he can do that, he allows another runner to score on a sac-fly making the lead grow to 5-0.

The final line on Strasburg was 6.1 inning pitched, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. All in all, he had a great outing, his defense let him down and his offense didn't help any. Losing his second straight start was surely tough, but Strasburg will look to continue his success today against the Mets. I can't say it won't be difficult, but it is the Mets, how hard can it be?