Stephen Strasburg

Just look at the names in this week's UTK and you'll see the issue. Giancarlo Stanton, Zack Greinke, Troy Tulowitzki, Stephen Strasburg—these are big-time stars, with most making big time money or carrying the hopes of a franchise on their back.

Baseball is in the midst of a golden age of pitching. While many fans chide the mere notion of pitch counts for young arms and "babying" prospects as they fondly remember the days of complete games thrown with regularity and 300-inning seasons from starters, those days are gone.

If Matt Harvey hadn't already put his name on the list of the league's top young aces, tonight likely did the trick.

Harvey outpitched fellow phenom Stephen Strasburg, who allowed two earned runs and two unearned runs.

FINAL SCORE:  Mets 7 - 1 Nationals

W : Matt Harvey (4-0)

L : Stephen Strasburg (1-3)

HRs: Davis (2,3), Duda (4,5)

After six weeks of preparation, the Washington Nationals will play their first game of the regular season on Monday afternoon. Spring training is officially in the books after their final tune-up against the New York Yankees on Friday afternoon.

Stephen Strasburg dominated hitters for five months in 2012. If he has his way, he'll have a chance to do it for six or seven months in 2013.

Former Montreal Expo Ross Grimsley has company.

Gio González became the second 20-game winner in franchise history as the Washington Nationals inched a little closer to the National League East title.

With the fantasy-trade deadlines coming up this week or next (I have four red-letter dates this Friday), it's time for owners to make one last pitch for baseball's elite categorical contributors.

AccuScore, a company that specializes in thorough game simulations, has made a few on-the-fly revisions to its seasonal projections.

Stephen Strasburg allowed the Boston Red Sox to put two runs on the board in the second inning to take an early lead over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Bryce Harper wasted no time taking part in the rally in the next half-inning that allowed the Nationals to take a 3-2 lead, a lead that they would never give back.

Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are the future of the Washington Nationals. 

Strasburg will be the ace of a formidable starting rotation for years to come, and Bryce Harper will anchor the outfield and the lineup with his five-tool talent. The future is in good hands. 

Here are seven reasons why the Washington Nationals need to quickly sign both players to long-term contracts to ensure the successful future of the franchise.

Stephen Strasburg's day could have gone better. Perhaps a better performance on the mound and less Icy Hot on his testicles would have helped. 

Nobody is perfect. That includes Nationals' ace Stephen Strasburg and the alleged prankster that put something hot where it doesn't belong. 

Oh, I know that you must have a ton of questions after a statement like that. All in good time.