Cespedes: 'I am 100-percent ready' for NLDS
NEW YORK -- When the National League Division Series opens Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET (TBS) in Los Angeles, don't expect any lingering effects from the fastball that bruised Yoenis Cespedes' fingers last week.
"I am 100-percent ready to start this battle," Cespedes said through an interpreter, before taking the field Tuesday for the first of two Mets workouts in Flushing.
The team plans to travel to Los Angeles after working out at Citi Field again on Wednesday afternoon.
The fulcrum of this Mets team, Cespedes hit .287 with 17 home runs in 57 games after coming to the Mets in a non-waiver Trade Deadline deal. He began slumping a bit after Marlins pitcher Tom Koehler hit him with a pitch Sept. 15 at Citi Field, then he sat out parts of two games after Phillies reliever Justin De Fratus plunked him on the left hand with an 89-mph fastball. X-rays were negative, and Cespedes returned to the lineup three days later.
Video: NYM@PHI: Cespedes hit by pitch on hand, leaves game
This will be Cespedes' third career playoff appearance. He hit .350 with one home run in 10 games for the A's in their 2012 and '13 American League Division Series, both against the Tigers.
The only player whose health remains uncertain for the Mets is starting pitcher Steven Matz, who plans to pitch in an instructional league game Thursday in the hopes of making the playoff rotation. Juan Uribe has been ruled out of the NLDS with a chest injury that has sidelined him since Sept. 25.