35 Oscar Mercado CF

Mercado (wrist) was locked in as the Indians' everyday center fielder when camp was suspended, MLB.com's Mandy Bell reports.

Mercado's status as the everyday center fielder is the most secure of any Indians outfielder, as Franmil Reyes will open in right field, but Mercado could also get starts at DH if Domingo Santana struggles. Tyler Naquin (knee) and Jordan Luplow could form a platoon in left field. While Mercado was dealing with a mild wrist sprain a few weeks ago, that should be a non-issue when play resumes.

Mercado's MRI confirmed a mild left wrist sprain and he is considered day-to-day, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

This is the best news we could have hoped for. Mercado probably won't play for at least a few days, but it sounds like being ready for Opening Day is a strong possibility. He will take the next couple days off before starting to do some light exercises to test the wrist.

Mercado will undergo an MRI on his left wrist Friday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Mercado was diagnosed with a sprained wrist after hurting himself on a diving catch Thursday. His expected return date should become clear following the MRI. The second-year player seemed to have a fairly safe role in a mess of an outfield situation in Cleveland, but if he's forced to open the year on the injured list, more opportunities would open up for some combination of Greg Allen, Jordan Luplow, Jake Bauers and Bradley Zimmer.

Mercado has been diagnosed with a sprained left wrist, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Mercado sustained the injury on a diving catch during Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants. He's tentatively being listed as day-to-day but will undergo further evaluation Friday morning, at which point a more concrete timetable for his return should emerge.

Mercado exited Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants with a potential wrist injury, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Mercado appeared to bend his wrist back while making a diving catch to end the fourth inning. The outfielder subsequently laid on the ground clutching his wrist in pain before being tended to by the team's medical staff. He'll likely head for further testing in the coming days to determine the severity of the injury, at which point a timetable for his return should emerge. Prior to suffering the injury and being replaced by Conner Marabell, Mercado went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer.

Mercado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Mercado was supposed to receive Saturday off after the Indians were eliminated from playoff contention a day earlier, but he ended up going 0-for-3 off the bench after entering the contest as a defensive replacement for Franmil Reyes. The rookie may be in store for a proper day off as the Indians wrap up their season Sunday.

Mercado is not starting Saturday against Washington.

Mercado sits along with a large number of Cleveland regulars after the team was eliminated from the wild-card hunt with Friday's loss. Bradley Zimmer starts in center field.

Mercado went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 11-0 win over the White Sox.

Mercado has left the yard in each of the Tribe's last three games and has driven in a run in five straight contests, with both streaks representing season-long marks. The rookie has two more games on tap against a weak White Sox pitching staff before closing out the regular season with a tougher three-game set versus the Nationals.

Mercado went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer and a walk in Sunday's win over Philadelphia.

Mercado's three-run shot to left field in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie, and he later came around to score another run following a walk in the seventh inning. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a productive September, hitting .325 (25-for-77) with four homers and 16 RBI in 20 games. That has pushed the rookie's season slash line to .281/.330/.456, which he has complemented with 14 homers, 51 RBI and 15 steals in 109 games.

Mercado went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer against the Phillies on Saturday.

Mercado took Jason Vargas deep in the second inning to record his 13th home run of the season. He's swung a hot bat of late, recording at least one hit in 13 of his last 16 starts. In that span, his average has jumped from .271 to .281 and he also has three home runs, 12 RBI, 13 runs scored and three stolen bases.

Mercado went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base Friday night against the Phillies.

Mercado kicked off the scoring in this one with an RBI double to left center, and he'd strike again in the seventh with an RBI single to left. He also managed to swipe his 15th bag of the season. The 24-year-old is slashing .281/.330/.445 with 12 homers and 46 RBI over 107 games in 2019.

Mercado went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two runs scored Tuesday against the Tigers.

Mercado continued to swing a hot bat by taking Zac Reininger deep in the first inning for his 12th home run of the season. He's now recorded four consecutive multi-hit games, racking up five runs scored, two home runs and three RBI in that span. Since Sept. 1, Mercado has raised his batting average from .268 to .282, an impressive mark for the 24-year-old rookie.

Mercado went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Mercado doubled and scored in the first inning and later hit a two-run shot off of Lewis Thorpe to give his team a 5-2 lead in the fourth, but the Twins would rally back to win 9-5. The homer was Mercado's 11th of the season.

Mercado went 3-for-5 with a two-run single, a run scored and a walk in Friday's 6-2 extra-innings win over the Twins.

Mercado scored the game-tying run in the eighth inning, lining a triple and scoring on Yasiel Puig's sacrifice fly. Mercado then plated a pair with a single to cap the Indians' four-run, 11th-inning rally. The outfielder is now hitting .273/.323/.429 with 10 homers, 39 RBI, 56 runs scored and three triples in 95 games this season.

Mercado went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the White Sox.

Mercado showed well both at the plate and in the field, making a game-saving sprawling catch with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. In addition, he was on base throughout the contest, recording his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 18. While he's fallen off a bit of late, Mercado has still put together a strong rookie campaign, collecting 10 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 93 games.

Mercado is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers.

Mercado has hit just .203/.239/.297 over his last 18 games. Greg Allen will take over in center field in his absence.

Mercado is out of the starting lineup Thursday against the Mets.

Greg Allen will start in center field and hit second against right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Mercado is 8-for-21 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases during his last five starts. The young outfielder is slashing .282/.325/.456 in 212 plate appearances against righties.

Mercado is not starting Wednesday against the Mets.

Mercado will give way to Greg Allen in center field Wednesday after starting the past three games and going 5-for-12 with a home run and two stolen bases.

Mercado went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, a walk and two stolen bases Sunday during an 8-4 victory against the Yankees.

The 24-year-old liked hitting at Yankee Stadium, as he went 6-for-9 (.667) with three extra-base hits in the weekend series at the Bronx. The successful weekend has raised his August average to .262. Overall, he's batting .285 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 52 runs and 11 steals in 305 at-bats this season.

Mercado went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk and two runs Saturday in the Indians' 6-5 loss to the Yankees.

Mercado's production had been trending down at the beginning of the month, but he's started to heat up a little with two-hit games in each of his last two starts. He'll look to maintain that momentum in the series finale Sunday, when he'll bat second and start in left field.