(Sports Network) - Since the Nationals relocated to Washington D.C. prior to the 2005 season, the eye of baseball hasn't shifted to the nation's capital very often.
That will be the case tonight, however, when super-hyped prospect Stephen Strasburg makes his major league debut in the opener of a three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park.
The top overall pick of the 2009 draft, Nationals fans have been counting down the days until their mound savior would be unleashed at the major league level. That date was announced as today last week after the 21-year-old dominated the minor leagues.
Strasburg went a combined 7-2 with a 1.30 earned run average in 11 combined starts at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He allowed eight earned runs, including just four with Syracuse, over 55 1/3 innings while striking out 65 batters and allowing just one homer. In his final minor-league start last Tuesday with the Chiefs, the right-handed San Diego State product hurled five scoreless innings.
"It's going to be a great feeling on Tuesday," Strasburg told Washington's website last week.
Strasburg's debut also comes less than 24 hours after the Nationals used the top pick of the 2010 draft on 17-year-old catcher Bryce Harper, who hit .442 with 29 homers, 89 RBI and a by far team-leading .986 slugging percentage in 62 regular-season games at Southern Nevada.
While Strasburg was arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball history, Harper is just as highly-touted as a position player. Harper, who won't turn 18 until Oct. 16, will likely have a longer road to the majors, though the Nats are going to begin his career in the outfield once he signs to speed up the process.
Pittsburgh selected second in Monday's draft behind Washington, choosing hard-throwing right-hander Jameson Taillon in the hopes that he can bolster its rotation down the road.
But first, Washington will get its first look at Strasburg after losing for the fifth time in six games and for the 10th time in its last 14 contests thanks to Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning setback to Cincinnati.
The Nationals carried a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning before closer Matt Capps gave up three runs. Mike Morse then forced extra innings with a pinch- hit two-run double in the bottom of the frame, but the Reds went ahead for good on Drew Stubbs' run-scoring single in the 10th inning.
Somebody had to start against Strasburg this evening and for the Pirates that will be Jeff Karstens, who is without a decision since his May 8 victory over the Cardinals. This was slated to be Zach Duke's night on the hill before Wednesday's rainout altered Pittsburgh's pitching plans, but manager John Russell isn't worried about his right-hander pitching in the spotlight.
"Jeff seems to rise to occasion," Russell told Pittsburgh's website. "He's very good about blocking things out. I think he really likes that atmosphere."
Karstens returned to the Pirates rotation on Tuesday and held the Cubs to a pair of runs over six innings of a no-decision. He had made six straight relief appearances, posting a 5.65 ERA in that span, after beginning the season in the rotation and is 1-1 on the season with a 4.50 ERA.
Karstens, 27, has made one career start versus the Nationals, allowing four runs over six innings of a no-decision on May 19 of last season. He has also made two relief outings against them and owns a career 9.35 ERA against them.
The Pirates were supposed to have an off day on Monday, but instead they played host to the Cubs in a make-up game from a June 2 rainout. Pittsburgh fell in defeat, 6-1, for its third loss in four games and eighth in its past 11.
Less than a week after being acquired from Toronto, Dana Eveland made his Pirates debut and allowed three runs over five innings. Jason Jaramillo plated Lastings Milledge with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for the lone run.
The Pirates have won seven of their last 10 versus the Nationals and won three of four in Washington a season ago.
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