NEW YORK -- Yoenis Cespedes' six-game absence from the Mets' starting lineup officially ended Friday, when he and his bruised right leg played center field for the first time since April 22. Cespedes had appeared in just one game over that stretch, walloping a pinch-hit, game-tying home run Tuesday against the Reds on the only pitch he saw.
That does not, however, mean that Cespedes is back to 100 percent. A bruise still exists on his leg in the area where he had fluid drained Monday, even if the discomfort mostly does not. The Mets do not want Cespedes, who admitted he would have been hesitant running the bases this week, to slide unless it's absolutely necessary.