Here we Yo again! Ces hits 10-day DL
WUSA TODAY ASHINGTON, D.C. — As expected, Yoenis Cespedes was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday. The Mets outfielder was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring after going for an MRI on Thursday.
“It’s probably better news than we thought, but it’s still going to be a awhile obviously,” Terry Collins said before Friday night’s series opening 7-5 win over the Nationals. “It’s in a different part of the hamstring than the injury last week. We just have to let him rest up for a while and do the rehab.”
Cespedes had to be taken out of the lineup just a week before with a hamstring injury. He sat out the entire weekend series with the Nationals and had just gotten back into the lineup on Wednesday night before re-injuring it Thursday afternoon.
Cespedes had doubled to the gap in left-center field in Thursday’s loss to the Braves and after turning at first base, he pulled up limping about halfway Joe Girardi finally got his starting shortstop to second. The slugger needed to help support himself on the shoulder of the trainer and first-base coach Tom Goodwin as he walked slowly off the field.
It is a huge blow to a struggling lineup that is already without Lucas Duda (hyperextended elbow) and Wilmer Flores (knee infection).
He is the bat that powers the Mets lineup. Over the past two seasons, the Mets are just 19-26 when he does not take an at-bat.
They pulled into Nationals Park on Friday having lost 10 of their last 11 and six straight. The Mets were in last place in the National League East and 7.5 games back of the Nationals.
“I haven’t talked to him except after the game yesterday. He’s frustrated,”
Girardi didn’t have Torreyes in the starting lineup Friday, and had lefty-hitting batters in the first, fourth, sixth and eighth lineup spots against Baltimore righthander Kevin Gausman. Judge was moved down a spot, No. 7, Friday night.
“The one thing I feel about this lineup is, it doesn’t really matter where you hit in this lineup so far this season, the first 20 games, you’re going to have opportunities to drive in runs,” said Girardi. “The runs have come from everywhere in the lineup. I think you can’t get so caught up with where you hit. Just do your job.” Collins said. “Like everybody, we’re all frustrated right now.”
The offense is one of the worst in the majors, but broke out for seven runs Friday night.
The Mets’ team batting average of just .209 was the second worst in the big leagues heading into Friday night’s game. They had been wasting the efforts of a pitching staff that is third in the National League.
The Mets recalled left-handed pitcher Sean Gilmartin to take Cespedes’ spot on the roster, because there are no outfielders on the Mets’ 40-man roster at Triple-A Las Vegas.
DUDA A hit in rehAb gAme
Lucas Duda went 1-for-3 with a single and played six innings at first base for Class-A St. Lucie) in his first rehab game since suffering a hyperextended left elbow.
“We’re hoping, Duda is playing tonight, we’re hoping he gets some more at-bats,” Collins said.
Duda, who was injured in a freak collision at first base, would be eligible to return for the series in Atlanta.
Collins said they will have to wait and see if Duda will be ready when he is eligible to come off the DL.
“I don’t know, if he’s feeling good, the one thing I do know, we’ll make sure he gets enough at-bats to see how the arm is going to react,” Collins said.
FLOreS SLOW COmebACK
Infielder Wilmer Flores, who was placed on the DL April 20 with a knee infection, has begun workouts, but is not expected to be ready when eligible to come off. “He is taking it a little slow because he has been off his feet so long,” Collins said.
nimmO reCOvering
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo played nine innings in centerfield for ClassA St. Lucie in a rehab game Friday. He was 1-for-5 with a double and one RBI.