Nationals' Strasburg Deemed Ready To Try Major-Leaguers After Striking Out 14 Pirates

Stephen Strasburg, 21-year-old pitching phenom for the Washington Nationals, struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday evening in seven innings, his final preparation for confronting big-league hitters.

Strasburg, a 5-2 winner against the Pirates and top pick in the 2009 draft, is scheduled to face major-leaguer batters for the first time in Cleveland on Sunday.

Strasburg -- whose changeup was recorded as faster than the fastball of the Pirates' starter, Jeff Karstens -- struck out the side four times in seven innings against Pittsburgh.