Teammates happy to get Wright back

Unable to handle Jake Westbrook's sinker in a 6-2 loss to St. Louis Thursday at Citi Field, the Mets saw their hopes for a fast start coming out of the All-Star break take a dip. But just as they got a lift from the return of Jose Reyes earlier in the week to help them take the first two games of the Cardinals series, the Mets now are looking forward to a reunion with third baseman David Wright Friday night in Florida.

Wright last played May 15 before going on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his lower back. He was hitting .226 after going 4-for-32 in his last 10 games, but if he's healthy, Wright could boost an offense that produced only four hits in eight innings against Westbrook.

"I think it will be huge,'' said leftfielder Jason Bay, who sat out Thursday 's game with a tight hamstring but hopes to play Friday night. "Not having him for so long, you kind of forget what he brings. With all this stuff regarding Carlos [Beltran] and the trades, I mean, in a roundabout way, it's like we're making a trade. We're getting a premier player, an impact bat that we haven't had for a while.

"You look at those two teams in front of us are up there quite a bit, so there needs to be some type of big, positive movement. Not that David is the savior, but hopefully, that will kind of spark something.''

Given all their injuries, the Mets have done well to remain at .500. Several players have picked up the slack, including first baseman Lucas Duda, who had two of the four hits off Westbrook to raise his average for the just-completed homestand to .417.

"It's great for the team to have David back in the lineup,'' Duda said. "Just his presence and leadership. As for me, I'll do anything I can to help the team. If that means getting sent to Buffalo, I have to do whatever.''

Duda, outfielder Jason Pridie and infielder Nick Evans are the candidates to be optioned when Wright is activated. Wright's spot at third was manned Thursday by cleanup hitter Daniel Murphy, whose hitting has been so important that manager Terry Collins said, "For sure, I've got to keep Daniel Murphy's bat in the lineup.''

Murphy can play first or go to second base, where Justin Turner has been playing. Turner has hit safely in seven of his past eight games, going .333 in that stretch.

"I don't know where I'm going to play,'' Murphy said. "J.T. has looked good at the plate as of late. He's swinging better, and I know he feels a lot better. That's one of those things T.C. will tell me when the time comes.''

Though it means another position change, Murphy is looking forward to Wright's return. "We're getting an All-Star back,'' Murphy said. "He was a great player before he got hurt, and I think we all expect him to play well when he gets back. That's just what he does.''