Cespedes could begin rehab stint Thursday

BOSTON -- Had the decision been left for him to make, Yoenis Cespedes would've already started his rehab assignment.

"Yeah," manager Bob Melvin said. "He would've flown out of here yesterday to try to get in a game last night."

Cespedes (left hand) will have to wait until at least Thursday to join Triple-A Sacramento, but even that puts him ahead of schedule, since he wasn't originally expected to begin his stint with the River Cats until Friday.

That means the 27-year-old could potentially play three games in Sacramento, rather than two, before coming off the disabled list when eligible Sunday. That is, "if everything goes well today, which I expect it to," Melvin said.

Cespedes took batting practice in Boston on Wednesday afternoon, as his teammates prepared to wrap up a three-game set with the Red Sox.