Strasburg named World Series MVP

Stephen Strasburg was named the World Series MVP after the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros in Game 7.

Strasburg is the only first overall draft pick to win MVP in the World Series, and the third pitcher in MLB history to earn five victories in a single postseason, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

He went 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings against the potent Astros lineup to earn the hardware. Only three right-handed pitchers have won the award since 2000.

It's a very different story from the 2012 campaign when the 24-year-old Strasburg - a first-time All-Star - was shut down for the postseason and the Nationals lost in the NLDS.

In 2019, the Nationals rode Strasburg to victory from the very beginning. He pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win in the wild-card game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Next, he held the Los Angeles Dodgers to four earned runs over 12 innings in the National League Division Series. He then toyed with the Cardinals, dominating them for seven innings as he struck out 12 while allowing a solitary unearned run.

He saved his finest moment for Game 6 of the Fall Classic. On Tuesday night, Strasburg allowed a pair of first-inning runs but was able to right the ship and pitch 7 1/3 scoreless thereafter to secure the victory and force the series to a deciding Game 7.

Strasburg rose to meet the challenge when it mattered most, and it earned him the series MVP.