Cespedes, who is batting cleanup and starting in left field against the Giants, is hitting.289 with 22 home runs and 59 RBI in 94 games with the Mets this season, though his production dipped after he injured his leg on July 8. Cespedes said he was 100% and could play center field if needed, but preferred to play left, where he was Friday night. Jose Reyes will play third base tonight, as he’s done in 13 of his previous 21 games with the Mets this season. Since joining the Mets, he’s gone 12-for-68 (.176).
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“Everyone expects me to perform the way I performed last August”, Cespedes said.
“Honestly, wherever the team needs me, I’ll go at this point”, Cespedes said. Asdrubal Cabrera drove in Luis Guillorme with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, leading the St. Lucie Mets to a 6-3 win over the Fort Myers Miracle on Wednesday. Mets manager Terry Collins is hoping the return of Cespedes will take pressure off Bruce, who made the All-Star team while with Cincinnati but is batting just.188 in 16 games since being shipped to NY.
With Matz sidelined, the Mets won’t be skipping Jon Niese’s turn in the rotation. The veteran lefty is scheduled to open the series in St. Louis that begins Tuesday.
Neil Walker was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game with lower back stiffness.
Josh Smoker arrived from Triple-A Las Vegas to give the Mets a fresh arm in the bullpen. The 27-year-old Smoker was activated for a doubleheader against the Cardinals last month, but did not make an appearance for the club.
Before landing on the disabled list, Cespedes had been limited to playing left field in order to avoid taxing his ailing leg.
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Mets COO Jeff Wilpon was at AT&T Park and said that he and two other Mets officials drove up to Calistoga to present Tom Seaver with a ring commemorating the 2015 National League Champions ring at the former Mets’ pitcher’s family vineyard. “But he said he’d probably be available tonight, so if that’s the case, we might be having him for tomorrow”. “He is doing very well”.
