Yoenis Cespedes is a better hitter than a doctor, apparently.
The Mets slugger had predicted he would need three days off to deal with what the team announced was a sore left thumb, but Cespedes will be batting third and playing left field Tuesday night.
Cespedes seemingly over-extended his left thumb as he slid into third base Sunday afternoon, in the Mets' blowout over the Padres.
At the time, Cespedes said it was an issue he had dealt with before and prescribed himself three days off. He was going to have an MRI on the thumb Monday.
"It's not the first time this thing happened to me," Cespedes said Sunday. "When I was playing with Oakland, it happened a couple times. I would say I will take off three days."
Cespedes had initial X-Rays at Petco Park as the Mets were finishing off the Padres, 14-2.
Cespedes slid head first into third base on a double-steal in the top of the third inning. As he slid in, instead of hitting the base with the base of his hand, he caught his thumb on the base and bent it back.
"This is not a big thing," said Cespedes, who missed 81 games last season with leg injuries. "I will take three days off and hopefully be back soon."
Cespedes spent all winter making sure that he could keep his legs healthy. He even gave up golf during the season to try to keep himself in the lineup. The Mets' focus this offseason was reorganizing their medical staff and trying to prevent injuries.
Before he was injured Sunday, Cespedes had a double and a single, extending his hitting streak to six straight games. In that span, he has hit .388 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs.
Even after his hot run, Cespedes is hitting just .233 after the Mets first 26 games. He had a fluky start to the season, not contributing his normal power, but coming through in clutch situation. He had three game-winning hits during his "slump."
