Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve bruised his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over Kansas City... [More]

Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve bruised his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over Kansas City... [More]

APRIL 171892: In the first Sunday game in National League history, Cincinnati defeated St. Louis 5-1.1932: New York first baseman Bill Terry tied an NL record with 21 putouts as the Giants beat Boston 5-0 behind Hal Schumacher’s two-hitter.1951: In his first major-league game, Mickey Mantle went 1-for-4 as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-0.1953: Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-foot home run off Chuck Stobbs. The shot came in the fifth inning of a 7-3 win over the Senators.1964: The New York Mets lost their first game at Shea Stadium to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3. Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell hit the first homer at Shea.1969: Bill Stoneman of Montreal pitched a 7-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th game of the Expos’ existence.1976: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies hit four consecutive home runs and a single in an 18-16, 10-inning victory over the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Hitting .167 going into the game,... [More]

OF Jeff Francoeur, who turns 33 in January, is a free agent. He is a valuable guy to have around and could return. He is far from the hitter he used to be -- he had 29 homers and 103 RBIs in 2006 -- but he still has some right-handed pop off the bench and has a big arm in right field. Francoeur from the right side could complement Ichiro Suzuki from the left side as Miami's two backup outfielders. Francoeur, who had a .675 OPS this year, is worth retaining depending on the salary terms.

OF Jeff Francoeur, who was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, made his Marlins debut on Thursday, getting an infield single as a pinch-hitter. Francoeur, 32, has a strong arm in right field and will be used in a part-time role. He will get most of his action against left-handed pitchers.

OF Jeff Francoeur was acquired by the Marlins from the Braves in a three-team trade Wednesday.Francoeur, 32, will be used in a reserve role. He is hitting .249/.290/.381 with seven homers and 33 RBIs through 99 games this year.

OF Jeff Francoeur gave the Braves a victory over the Phillies on Sunday with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. It was his seventh homer of the season, but first at home. He hadn't gone deep at Turner Field since Aug. 3, 2010 while with the New York Mets. His last homer as a Brave in Atlanta came in 2009. Francoeur has hit 46 of his 48 homers at Turner Field as a member of the Braves.

LF Jeff Francoeur picked up one hit in the loss. He is now batting .288 in 113 career games at Citizens Bank Park. Francoeur was a member of the Phillies in 2015.

LF Jeff Francoeur went 2-for-4 on Monday night, the only member of the Braves lineup with multiple hits. The former Philadelphia outfielder, now in his second tour with the Braves, raised his average to .290 (105-for-362) at Citizens Bank Park in 111 career games.

LF Jeff Francoeur finished 1-for-4 with a RBI on Monday. He is hitting .353 (24-for-68) in his last 14 games with six doubles and six RBIs.

LF Jeff Francoeur went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs, an RBI and a walk on Sunday. Francouer is now batting .359 (23-for-64) against left-handers this season.

LF Jeff Francoeur was 0-for-2 on Sunday against the Marlins, but hit a sacrifice fly and scored a run after a walk. He began the day with three consecutive multi-hit games and was 8-for-13 during a four-game hitting streak. He is batting .305 (29-for-95) in his 24 starts this season.

LF Jeff Francoeur had a double and single Saturday in his third consecutive multi-hit game. He is 8-for-13 during a four-game hitting streak and batting .312 (29-for-93) in his 23 starts this season.

OF Jeff Francoeur tied his career high with four hits, the 12th time he's done it in his career. He has six hits over the last two games and is batting .303 (27-for-89) in 22 starts.

OF Jeff Francoeur picked up a fourth-inning single off Phillies starter Adam Morgan.He raised his average against left-handers this season to .327 (16-of-49). Francoeur, who spent last season with the Phillies, is hitting exactly .250 overall on the season (23-of-92).

PITTSBURGH -- The Atlanta Braves close out a 10-game road trip with a weekend series in Philadelphia. Despite losing three of four in Pittsburgh by a combined 31-19, perhaps the Braves shouldn't be in a hurry to get home.Since April 15, the Braves are 8-9 on the road and 2-12 at home. They hit the 40-game mark at 10-30 after an 8-2 loss to the Pirates on Thursday.It was kind of a wacky series in Pittsburgh.Atlanta fired manager Fredi Gonzalez and replaced him with Brian Snitker on an interim basis, then got Snitker his first win after he spent 40 years in the organization. They watched the Pirates score seven runs in the first inning Tuesday, and on Thursday they had to play without shortstop Erick Aybar, who had to be treated at a hospital after getting a chicken bone lodged in his throat.Left fielder Jeff Francoeur saw progress, however, as 19 of Atlanta's 41 hits in the series were for extra bases."I have to imagine that's the most extra-base hits we've had in a series this year. I think... [More]

RF Jeff Francoeur singled and scored the lone Braves' run. Francoeur, who played with the Royals in 2011-13, also committed a fielding error in the first inning, leading to an unearned Royals' run.

OF Jeff Francoeur had a pinch-hit single to tie the game Thursday. Francoeur had been 0-for-7 as a pinch hitter. It was only Francoeur's fourth hit against a right-handed pitcher.

LF Jeff Francoeur doubled home two runs to complete a three-run rally Sunday that tied the game. Francoeur entered the game hitting only .087 (2-for-23) against right-handed pitchers. Francoeur grounded out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.

OF Jeff Francoeur was 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored on Tuesday. Over the last eight games, Francoeur is 10-for-22 (.454). He has hit safely in four straight games and has multiple hits in four of his last five starts.