The Nationals ace is coming off draft boards as the sixth overall pitcher in fantasy baseball drafts.

Heading into the 2020 MLB season, Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals are coming off a World Series Championship and will look to defend their title in this year’s shortened season. Strasburg is entering his 11th season with an impressive 112-58 record, 3.17 ERA, 1.086 WHIP, and 1,696 strikeouts. Last season the Nationals’ ace set a career-high in strikeouts (251) but Sports Illustrated’s Shawn Childs is a bit wary of his 245.1 innings pitched in 2019.

Is drafting Strasburg in the Top 25 and as the sixth pitcher in fantasy baseball leagues a smart move? Childs and fantasy analyst Ben Heisler weigh in.

Read the conversation from their analysis:

Corey Parson: Another day, there's more rumors about when Major League Baseball could be returning. Fantasy baseball owners all waiting on that. Joining me right now to talk some Washington Nationals fantasy baseball is SI's fantasy and gambling analyst Shawn Chaildss and Ben Heisler. Ben, last season. Guess what? Stephen Strasburg actually threw over 200 innings. What do you think about him out for the upcoming year. 

Ben Heisler: I have some concerns about Stephen Strasburg, Corey, heading into 2020 right now, he's the starting pitcher. His average draft position is 23. And it's rightfully earned after a fantastic 2019 he led the National League in innings pitched, had the highest strikeouts of his career with 251. And just brilliant in the postseason. To put up with guys like Madison Bumgarner, Curt Schilling. The list goes on and on. Here's my issue though: the last time Stephen Strasburg pitched this many innings, it was 2014. And he missed time every season up until this year. He's got a history of injuries. He's entering his 11th season in the league and he's on the wrong side of 31. So I have some concerns about Stephen Strasburg's health heading into 2020. So I'm passing on him, at least at this average draft position now. 

Corey Parson: Interesting. Shawn, do you share those concerns? 

Shawn Childs: I would probably side with him if this was a full season, but I think with a shortened season it really benefits him. He kind of actually is an arm that could match a lot of the top arms in baseball over, like he said, into the last year or was last 74 innings his ERA was under 2.90, almost 97. I think he had 97n strikeouts, allowed two runs or less in 20 of his 33 starts. But he really had three bad starts last year with 20 runs. 29 base runnerss over 13.2 innings. That really ballooned is ERA over three which makes him trail the other guys as far as you know that category. But he has a great change up, curveball, fastballs, you know, drifting back a little bit, but like a shortened season and a little less innings, you break it out a little more gas on that. I think he's fairly priced. And if you want to cheat a little bit and get a good bat or two and then get him as the early third round pick, I think he's going to be a pretty good foundation pitcher. 

Corey Parson: All right. Thanks a lot Ben and Shawn. All the latest from the majors keep it locked right here at SI.com. 

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