The Mets are now optimistic that Daniel Murphy will be ready for Opening Day

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Daniel Murphy’s status for Opening Day was in jeopardy after he strained his right hamstring back on March 19, but there’s now increased optimism that he’ll be ready after all.

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said this afternoon there has been a “significant upgrade” in Murphy’s status from just a couple of days ago. He went 1-for-5 with a home run in a minor league intrasquad game today and is expected to play the field in another minor league game tomorrow. Barring any setbacks, the plan now calls for him to meet up with the team in Washington, D.C. in advance of Monday’s season opener against the Nationals.

Murphy, 30, batted .289/.332/.403 with nine home runs, 57 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 143 games last season. The impending free agent is still an important part of the Mets’ lineup, but this will almost certainly be his last season in Queens.

MLB homer leader Pete Alonso to IL with bone bruise, sprain in wrist

pete alonso
Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports
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PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.

The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.

The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.

“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”

New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.

“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”

Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.

The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.

New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.

Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.