Castillo leading 2B competition for now

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Luis Castillo arrived in spring training with something to prove, and unless someone else steps up in the second-base competition, there's an outside chance he could wind up as the last man standing there.

There's still three weeks before Opening Day, so there's plenty of time for Daniel Murphy, Brad Emaus or Justin Turner to outshine Castillo. But the $6-million incumbent, despite a myriad leg issues, has stayed healthy -- and been stable enough to stay in the mix.

The question posed Wednesday to a scout that regularly follows the Mets: If Opening Day was tomorrow, who would be the starting second baseman? The answer: "Castillo by default."

Not the popular choice, to be sure. But as a former three-time All-Star and owner of three Gold Gloves, Castillo has a resume. He also reached base three times on a single and two walks.

"I feel good and I want to keep going," Castillo said. "If I can get playing time and get more at-bats, I can show what I can do. I feel a lot better than last year."

Castillo is scheduled to DH in a split-squad game Thursday and will be back starting at second base Friday.

"I told him the other day I thought his energy was better," Collins said.

Extra bases

Josh Thole and Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered as the Mets beat the Astros, 7-2, at Digital Domain Park. Lucas Duda went 0-for-2 in his professional debut in rightfield. He's batting .292 (8-for-27) with a home run and three doubles . . . Chris Young allowed a pair of homers during his four innings but Francisco Rodriguez looked sharp in an extended stint, retiring all five hitters and striking out two.