The New York Mets are a game below five hundred and are in third place in the NL East. Riding a four-game losing streak, the Mets have some help on the way as the team activated Jose Reyes off the disabled list Saturday.
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In his 16 game with the Mets this season before landing on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, Reyes hit.239.
Although several of the Mets’ starting position players remain injured, the tandem of 30-year-old veterans could return to aid the club’s push toward the postseason as NY remains just two games back of the final National League wild card spot.
On the other hand, Cabrera found himself on the 15-day disabled list one day prior as the result of a strained tendon in his left knee.
Cabrera is making progress, however, and the team hopes he can return next weekend in San Francisco, manager Terry Collins says.
Collins sounded even more confident about slugger Yoenis Cespedes coming off the DL when he’s eligible on Friday.
Before the game, the Mets promoted pitcher Gabriel Ynoa and demoted Logan Verrett, who had racked up a 7.18 ERA in seven starts replacing Matt Harvey in the rotation, and the move paid immediate dividends. Reyes drew a walk in the first and came around to score.
“Those guys can not get back at a better time”, Collins said. “We need ’em. We need their leadership, besides their playing ability”. “He said I’ll see you … in San Francisco”. Matt Reynolds was sent to Triple-A before the game.
Said Collins: “When he injured the leg, the discussion was ‘centerfield’s beating me up with all the running, ‘ so we need to take a good, hard look at it”.
Cespedes worked out Saturday and is expected to be the designated hitter for St. Lucie on Monday.
Reyes went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and is hitting.225 with three homers and eight RBIs in 71 at-bats. Then he would play the outfield in the following days, Collins said.
Collins said he is unsure if Cespedes will play center fielder when he returns. While Cespedes began the season as the Mets’ everyday center fielder, his balky quad forced him to shift to left.
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Cespedes, easily the Mets’ best hitter, is batting.289 with 22 home runs and 59 RBI in 94 games this year. He could begin playing minor league rehab games Tuesday, Collins said.
