Red-hot Cespedes finally will cool off with a self-imposed day off

ATLANTA — Terry Collins just lets Yoenis Cespedes do Cespedes. The Cuban slugger has his own approach and his own schedule. Last week, in Philadelphia, the Mets manager thought they had come to an agreement about a day off.

“I am walking out, he comes out of the shower, just towel on and he comes over and says, ‘I changed my mind, I want to play tomorrow.’ ‘OK you are in there,’ ” Collins said was the conversation. “Sold me.”

A few days later, Collins tried to broach the subject of rest again and was shut down quickly.

“I interpreted it as ‘No way in hell,’ so he’s in there,” Collis said with a laugh. “OK, I am just doing my duty.”

Saturday night, Cespedes decided Sunday would be a day of rest. Collins feels he has earned it. After an eighth-inning dinger just over the left-field fence in Saturday night’s 6-4 win over the Braves at Turner Field, Cespedes has hit a home run in eight of his last 11 games.

He has 32 RBI over his last 21 games with an at-bat and has 29 extra-base hits in his 39 games with the Mets. According to the Elias Sports Bureau he is the first player in the last 100 years who has had

28 extra-base hits within the first 40 games with a new team after having played for another during that season.

Most impressively, he has had 16 home runs in the 39 games.

Saturday, Cespedes wandered out of the Mets clubhouse to join batting practice with one of the last groups. As he came out, a group of Mets fans behind the visitors dugout at Turner Field began the “MVP” chant.

Collins did not join in, but he certainly thinks those fans are onto something.

“You can make a case. He’s got to be in the running,” Collins said. “I don’t know if he is going to get it, but he’s got to be in the running.”

SKIP DAY

Collins confirmed Saturday that Logan Verrett will start for Matt Harvey on Monday, as The News had reported last week. Verrett allowed one run over eight innings against the Rockies in a spot start for Harvey last month.

The rotation for the Yankees series has not been set yet, Collins said, but sources told The News that it is likely Harvey will start in that series.

DAYS OF REST

David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud will sit out Sunday’s series finale at Turner Field. The Mets captain, who is playing with spinal stenosis, decided to rest Sunday and then play the entire three game series against Miami, which begins Monday back in New York. With an off day on Thursday, Wright also plans to play the entire Subway Series as well.

Tyler Clippard, who gave up the game-tying home run in the eighth, will also be off Sunday, Collins said

SLIM PICKINGS

With the rosters expanded, the Mets have 37 players in their clubhouse this month, which can prove to be a challenge for Collins. He has relievers he needs to get in games to keep them sharp and he has hitters he’d like to see get a few at-bats.

There is also just the matter of supplies and space. The bullpen has 16 pitchers and not enough space for them all to sit.

“We only let them watch the game in shifts. Ten guys get to watch the first five innings, then the other 10 get to watch the last five,” Collins joked. “Then after the game they can go have salads, but you have to get in there fast, because the food is gone by the end of the game.