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Strasburg strikes out career-high 15 vs. hometown Padres

Geoff Burke / USA TODAY Sports

It's nearly impossible to imagine Stephen Strasburg pitching any better than he has in his career to date, but he raised the bar again Saturday.

The Washington Nationals starter and San Diego native set a new career high for strikeouts against his hometown Padres as he fanned 15 batters at Nationals Park to outdo his previous best of 14.

Strasburg threw a total of 108 pitches before being replaced by Matt Albers to begin the eighth inning. He walked just one batter and allowed no earned runs on three hits.

His previous career high for strikeouts was first set in his major-league debut in 2010, when he recorded 14 punchouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates on just 94 pitches. He then matched the feat on Sept. 15, 2015 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

After Saturday's start against the Padres, Strasburg now owns a 2.94 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 10 starts this season.

He signed a seven-year, $175-million extension with the Nationals in May 2016.

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