Nats claim left-hander Xavier Cedeno, option him to Triple-A (with lineups)

The Nationals have added another left-handed reliever to their organization, claiming Xavier Cedeno off waivers from the Astros and optioning him to Triple-A Syracuse. Cedeno, 26, posted an 11.37 ERA over five appearances spanning 6 1/3 innings with Houston this season. He allowed 10 hits and 11 runs (eight earned) with seven walks, three strikeouts and hit two batters. Last season, Cedeno's numbers were far better. He worked in 44 games with the Astros, putting up a 3.77 ERA over 31 innings. Cedeno allowed 30 hits, walked 14 and struck out 36. He'll now join fellow Puerto Rican J.C. Romero at Syracuse. Both left-handed relievers were a part of Puerto Rico's bullpen in the World Baseball Classic. Romero, for what it's worth, has appeared in seven games with Syracuse so far this season, allowing six hits and one unearned run. He's walked none and struck out eight. The Nationals will run out the same eight position players tonight that we saw last night against the Cardinals. Anthony Rendon will get his third straight start at third base, hitting sixth. The Nats will face Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, who is off to a strong start to 2013. The right-hander has gone 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA through his first four starts. Ross Detwiler will get to face his hometown team yet again tonight. Detwiler's last regular season start of 2012 was in St. Louis, and it didn't go too well, as the lefty went just 2 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on four hits with five walks. He responded by shutting the Cardinals down in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, however, allowing just one unearned run over six sparkling innings in a must-win game for the Nats. Detwiler has been the Nats' most consistent and effective starter this season, putting up a 0.90 ERA with an 11-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio through three outings. For the Nats CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 3B Anthony Rendon 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki LHP Ross Detwiler For the Cardinals CF Shane Robinson 1B Allen Craig LF Matt Holliday RF Carlos Beltran C Yadier Molina 3B David Freese 2B Matt Carpenter SS Pete Kozma RHP Adam Wainwright