Mets' Yoenis Cespedes strains hamstring, expected to go on DL

TheNew York Metsgot even more bad news Thursday as sluggerYoenis Cespedes suffered a left hamstring strain and had to exit the team's 7-5 defeat to the Atlanta Braves.

Initially, the Mets called it a hamstring pull. Cespedes is getting an MRI.

The Mets are expected to place Cespedes on the DL and send him to Florida for rehab, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney. It is possible he will receive platelet-rich plasma injections.

Cespedes pulled up lame after rounding first base on a one-hop double in the bottom of the fourth inning. He bent over in pain after reaching second as manager Terry Collins and head athletic trainer Ray Ramirez rushed out to see what was wrong.

Cespedes draped one arm over the shoulder of Ramirez and the other over the shoulder of first base coach Tom Goodwin as he limped slowly back to the Mets dugout.

Cespedes, 31,who has six home runs and 10 RBIs this season, had just returned to the lineup Wednesday after a nagging hamstring injury had sidelined him for three games.

Juan Lagares replaced Cespedes in Thursday's game.

Earlier Thursday, the Mets scratched right-hander Noah Syndergaard from Thursday's start with discomfort in his biceps. Matt Harvey got the start against the Braves.

Syndergaard, who is 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 26 innings this season, originally was going to pitch Wednesday but had been moved to Thursday.

He pitched through a bone spur in his right elbow through a large part of last season. Syndergaard said his biceps became irritated a few days ago and he took anti-inflammatory medication.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.