Daniel Murphy ready for Opening Day, but where will he hit in the order?
The Mets' Daniel Murphy sits in the dugout at a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on Aug. 27, 2014. Credit: Errol Anderson
After days of uncertainty, Daniel Murphy's hamstring will not keep him out of the Mets' starting lineup on Opening Day.
What remains unclear is where Murphy's name will appear in the batting order.
"We're going to have another discussion about it," manager Terry Collins said after a 4-4 tie with the Rangers in Saturday's exhibition finale.
Collins and his coaching staff will confer Sunday in Washington, where the Mets will spend their day off before Monday's season opener.
Last season, Murphy made himself a fixture in the second spot, hitting .289 -- a team-best among regulars -- on the way to his first All-Star Game. But Collins wants to take advantage of Murphy's bat by moving it closer to the middle of the lineup, where he can bat more often with runners on base.
Collins said he might hit Murphy fifth Monday against the Nationals and their newest ace, Max Scherzer.
Murphy will meet the club in Washington after spending the last few days getting at-bats at the team's complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
In a minor-league camp game Saturday, he went 0-for-5 and played four innings at second base.
Collins said centerfielder Juan Lagares will lead off and rightfielder Curtis Granderson will hit second on Opening Day against the Nationals.
More lineup decisions will await Collins when he puts the pitcher in the eighth spot in the order, as the Mets have done in games started by the better-hitting pitchers on the staff.
In those scenarios, the Mets banked on Lagares hitting ninth. But Collins might reconsider after Lagares hit .359 during Grapefruit League action.
"Juan has had such a good spring, I hate to have him hit ninth because he deserves more at-bats than that," Collins said. "That's why I don't know where he's going to hit or what we're going to do yet."
Final tuneup
Righthander Dillon Gee allowed two runs in 42/3 innings against the Rangers. He struck out four, walked two and hit two batters while pushing his pitch count to 84.
Gee remains in line to be the Mets' fifth starter. He beat out prospect Rafael Montero, who will begin the season working out of the bullpen.
Extra bases
Pitchers Bobby Parnell, Zack Wheeler, Vic Black and Josh Edgin will be placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27 . . . After Saturday's promotions and demotions, the Mets' 40-man roster is at capacity . . . Black threw 22 pitches while facing four batters Saturday in a minor-league game. Parnell worked an inning and allowed one hit.
