Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes hit third for just the second time this season Thursday against the Indians, and it had everything to do with left-handed hurler Scott Kazmir being on the mound.
Cespedes entered play Thursday batting .316 (6 for 19) with three home runs and a .789 slugging percentage in 13 games against lefties this season.
"Just more of a lefty thing -- get him up there, make sure he gets up in the first inning, too. Scoot everybody up a little bit," manager Bob Melvin said, per MLB.com. "So you want to get those guys up sooner rather than later -- the guys you expect to do a little more damage off the left-handed pitcher."