Cespedes helped off field after pulling hamstring running bases

Things just went from bad to worse in Queens.

The New York Mets, who are already dealing with a barrage of early-season injuries, may have just suffered their biggest blow yet, as star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes had to be helped off the field after pulling his left hamstring after hitting a double in the fourth inning of Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Cespedes appeared to pull up while running between first and second, and was very slow to reach the bag in obvious pain. After a brief examination, he slowly limped off the field and into the clubhouse with assistance from Mets trainers.

He was replaced by pinch runner Juan Lagares, who came around to score New York's first run of the game on Neil Walker's RBI double two batters later.

The Mets will send Cespedes for an MRI on Friday, manager Terry Collins told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. "There's no indication for how long it will be," Collins said.

Cespedes also missed the Mets' entire weekend series against Washington after dealing with left hamstring cramps last week.

His latest hamstring issue came hours after New York suffered another potentially crippling loss, as the team was forced to scratch ace Noah Syndergaard from his scheduled start Thursday due to a "tired arm." Matt Harvey got the emergency start in place of Thor and made an already dark afternoon at Citi Field even worse when the Braves tagged him for six runs in just 4 1/3 innings.

The Mets have been decimated by injuries early this season. Aside from Cespedes' hamstring issues and Syndergaard's apparent arm woes, they have six prominent members of the team on the disabled list, including pitchers Seth Lugo and Steven Matz, first baseman Lucas Duda, and longtime third baseman David Wright.

The 31-year-old Cespedes entered Thursday's contest hitting .262/.370/.607 with six home runs, 10 RBIs, and 11 walks this season. He's in the first season of the four-year, $110-million contract he signed to remain with the Mets this winter after briefly testing free agency.