Kirk Nieuwenhuis may move to left while Jason Bay is out

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who has had an adventuresome week in centerfield, is likely to play a fair amount in left when Andres Torres returns from the disabled list Monday. His start at the plate -- .327 entering Wednesday night's game against the Marlins -- make it imperative for Terry Collins to find a place for the rookie in the field.

Collins said Wednesday night that he will talk to Nieuwenhuis about the likelihood that "he's going to have to move over to the corners." Leftfield is the corner available, with Jason Bay on the disabled list. "You've got a guy who's hitting .350, I think you've got to figure out some way to keep him in the lineup," the manager said.

Nieuwenhuis said, "That's a bridge that we'll cross when we get to it. I haven't been told anything, I haven't heard anything. I've played more right than left but I'll play wherever they put me."

As a centerfielder, he had a rough moment Saturday when he lost track of a game-ending pop-up. But in stark contrast, he set the tone for a win Tuesday night with a sprinting, leaping catch in the first against Jose Reyes, possibly robbing the former Met of a triple.