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At least Xavier Cedeno got to pitch in the majors during his latest stint with the Washington Nationals. Cedeno, 27, was up and down all summer in 2013, but he threw just 1 ⅓ innings before getting some significant work in the final month of the season. In 4 ⅔ IP in September, the former Houston Astro claimed off waiver by the Nats last April, put up a 1.93 ERA over nine appearances, putting himself in the mix for a spot in the 2014 pen with his late-season work.
Cedeno was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse at the start of this season, however, where he is (2-0) with a 1.23 ERA, a 1.20 FIP, 16 walks (1.84 BB/9) and 20 Ks (12.27 K/9) in 14 ⅔ IP so far in his second year with the organization.
The #Nats have optioned LHP Xavier Cedeno to Triple-A Syracuse.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 18, 2014
In the majors, after a scoreless inning of work in St. Louis, Cedeno has thrown 2 ⅓ IP in the two appearances he's made while with the Nationals. The southpaw was called up last week to take Blake Treinen's spot on the roster after Treinen filled in for the DL'd Gio Gonzalez, but with Gonzalez scheduled to return for tonight's start in the second game of two with the Astros, Cedeno was once again sent down to the Nats' top minor league affiliate.
Treinen, who is (0-3) with a 2.08 ERA, a 3.05 FIP, 10 walks (2.97 BB/9) and 17 Ks (5.04 K/9) in 30 ⅓ IP with Washington thus far in three stints with the Nationals, made his seventh start for the Syracuse Chiefs Tuesday night, improving to (3-0) with a win over the Norfolk Tides (BAL) in which he gave up six hits, two walks and two earned runs while collecting six Ks in six innings.
"He was like a god to me growing up." - Strasburg on Gwynn
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Gio Gonzalez, 28, made two starts at High-A Potomac while he rehabbed from the shoulder inflammation which landed him on the DL for the first time in his major league career back on May 18th. In his first minor league outings since 2009, Gonzalez gave up nine hits, eight walks and nine earned runs in 7 ⅔ IP.
Gonzalez will make his tenth start of the year for the Nationals tonight. In his previous nine outings, the left-hander was (3-4) with a 4.62 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 20 walks (3.55 BB/9) and 53 Ks (9.41 K/9) in 50 ⅔ IP before two rough outings and a subsequent MRI which revealed inflammation, led to his DL stint.