Strasburg (13-0) gave up an earned run on three hits and two walks over eight innings in Friday's 5-1 victory over the Pirates. He struck out six and also helped his own cause by driving in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice bunt.
The Strasburg Express keeps rolling along, with the right-hander throwing 69 of 105 pitches for strikes, and notching first-pitch strikes on 19 of the 28 batters he faced. His only hiccup was the RBI single he gave up to Jody Mercer in the fifth, and he looked considerably refreshed after refraining from participating in the All-Star Game, giving him seven days between starts. The 27-year-old has now won 16 straight decisions dating back to last September, a Nationals franchise record for starting pitchers. Strasburg will look to extend his remarkable streak in a Thursday afternoon start versus the Dodgers.