Handle with care

Eleven years ago today, the playoff-bound Washington Nationals announce they are shutting down prized pitcher Stephen Strasburg for the remainder of the 2012 season as he nears 160 innings.

Strasburg, then 24 and barely a year removed from completing his injury rehab for Tommy John surgery, finishes the season at 15-6 with 197 strikeouts in 159 1/3 innings.

The Nationals' prudence with a seemingly healthy Strasburg may have cost them in the postseason as the Nationals fall to St. Louis in the first round of the National League playoffs.

Strasburg, seen here in a 2012 Associated Press photo, and the Nationals return to the playoffs – only to fall – in 2014, 2016 and ’17 before finally winning the 2019 World Series.

There, in 2019, Strasburg wins both of his starts against Houston and is named the Series MVP, leading to a new contract worth $245 million over seven years.

Injuries since then, however, limit Strasburg to a total of 31 1/3 innings in eight starts before he announces late last month his plans to retire.