Cedeno Called Up; Rain Delay And Detwiler’s Return Eliminate Need For Ohlendorf

Never mind on that earlier post. 

Aug 17, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf (59) adjusts during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Nationals called up LHP Xavier Cedeno to replace Stephen Strasburg on the active roster today, likely with the intent to return him to the minors once the team needed a starter in Stephen Strasburg’s spot in the rotation. However, today’s rainout changed that. It gave every starter an extra day of rest, which means the Nationals can skip Strasburg’s spot in the rotation again. Ordinarily, this would mean that spot starter Ross Ohlendorf would just have to wait another week to come up from Syracuse. However, with a successful side session on Wednesday, Ross Detwiler seems likely to return to the rotation June 13th or 14th. Nate Karnswill then be occupying Strasburg’s rotation spot until he returns, shutting out Ohlendorf altogether.

This is quite a bit of bad luck for Ohlendorf, who would certainly have enjoyed the pay bump that comes with a callup, but good news for the Nats. The fewer starts made by replacement starters the better, and getting Detwiler back into the fold will be a much-needed boon to a pitching staff ravaged by injuries. As for Cedeno, he was called up earlier this season for a day but did not pitch. He has a career 6.00 ERA, so hopefully he won’t have to, but he is necessary insurance for a bullpen that had to pitch five innings in support of Dan Haren on Wednesday and will likely have to get at least four more done when Karns starts.