Pennant Push Alert: Strasburg to Return to Nats, and He’s Bringing Help

The next week will be interesting if you watch Washington Nationals baseball. If you don’t follow it at all, then you should for the time being.

It was reported on Tuesday afternoon that super prospect Stephen Strasburg would be recalled to the major league club in one week’s time. Strasburg pitched to a sub-3.00 ERA and struck out batters in grand fashion before sustaining his season-ending injury. He owns a bloated 5.02 ERA in five appearances during his minor league rehab work while striking out 25 batters in 14 1/3 innings pitched.

Strasburg is coming back to Washington, but he’s not coming alone.

Tom Milone, a 2008 draft pick and control specialist, has won 12 games with a 3.22 ERA and has walked 16 batters in 148 1/3 IP.

He’ll be interesting to watch, but there’s another guy rolling up with them. Brad Peacock, who I featured in my preseason prospect piece on FOXSports.com, has positively dominated minor league batters this season. Peacock earned a record of 15-3 between Double-A and Triple-A with a 2.39 ERA. He fanned 10.87 batters per nine innings.

Add this trio to Jordan Zimmermann and the Nats’ rotation looks mighty intriguing for 2012.

As for the pennant chase, I’m spying a gain of a point or two in the fantasy realm. Keep working it!