Strasburg plays catch; lefty Cedeno recalled

WASHINGTON -- Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg played catch on Thursday after officially being placed on the disabled list with a mild lat strain.

Manager Davey Johnson said that Strasburg was playing catch even before pitching coach Steve McCatty arrived on the field. Strasburg likely will throw off a mound in a simulated game in Colorado on Tuesday. He is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 16.

"He was feeling real frisky, and [McCatty] had to cut him short," Johnson said after Thursday's game was rained out. "But he's champing at the bit to get back on the rubber."

The Nationals recalled lefty Xavier Cedeno from Triple-A Syracuse to take Strasburg's place on the roster. Cedeno joined the Nationals for their Memorial Day game against the Orioles but did not pitch. In 14 relief appearances with Syracuse, he is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA.