Update – Aug 1
After tonight’s 6-5 loss to the New York Yankees, manager Terry Collins spoke to reporters and said that left fielder Yoenis Cespedes will not be in the starting lineup on Tuesday for a third straight game.
Collins added that he is hoping that Cespedes will be available to pinch-hit, but he won’t know until he checks in with him tomorrow.
During the Mets broadcast, general manager came on to discuss the day’s events and added that in his judgement Cespedes will most likely play left field until he can show his quad injury is 100 percent behind him.
Sandy also said the Mets hope to play Cespedes beginning Wednesday when they’ll have the DH for five straight games.
Original Report – July 31
Yoenis Cespedes left yesterday’s game against the Rockies as a precaution due to wet field conditions and tightness in his quad.
Manager Terry Collins says Cespedes is dealing with more discomfort than he’s letting on, but added he will do everything possible to keep him off the disabled list, including resting him every few games if that’s what it takes.
“We’re going to do the best we can to make sure he stays off the DL,” Collins said. “We need him. We need his bat in the lineup. If we need to give him a day, every other, every third day or so, we’ll do that.”
The good news for the Mets is they have five games at American League parks starting on Wednesday, which will allow Cespedes extra rest as a designated hitter.
Cespedes first injured his quad on July 7th against the Nationals when he made a sliding catch on a shallow fly ball. Ever since then, he hasn’t been playing at full strength and has been limited to playing left field.
When Cespedes returned to the lineup following the All-Star break, he said he could fight through the injury despite not being 100 percent healthy.
“I don’t think I’m at 100 percent,” Cespedes said through a translator in the Mets clubhouse after a 5-0 win over the Phillies. “I’m at 80, 90 percent, but I can hold myself up to play. I’d rather play left field because I feel more comfortable and also it’s less work on my left leg.” (Joe Giglio, NJ.com)
Entering yesterday’s game, he was batting .222/.318/.361 in 36 at bats following the All-Star break. He was 0-for-2 last night with a walk, but hit a deep fly ball to the warning track in the first inning against Jorge De La Rosa.
Clearly, the Mets’ cannot afford to be without Cespedes for an extended period of time. He’s the team’s biggest power threat as his 22 homeruns, 58 RBI and .924 OPS lead the team.
And he’s proven to be capable of igniting team’s lineup after his second half heroics last season. In 57 games last year, he blasted 17 home runs with 44 RBI and an excellent .942 OPS to help carry the Mets to a division title.
