NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Mets’ opening-day lineup is not exactly what they had in mind.
Second baseman Daniel Murphy is in Florida awaiting the birth of his first child, and new outfielder Chris Young is sitting out Monday against the Washington Nationals because of a mild right quadriceps strain.
Eric Young Jr. moves from left field to second base to replace Murphy, who played 161 games last season. Juan Lagares is starting in center field and Andrew Brown in left.
Chris Young says he tweaked his quad running out a grounder in his final spring training at-bat last weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays in Montreal. After an off day Tuesday, he expects to be in the lineup Wednesday night.
General manager Sandy Alderson says Murphy also is expected back for Wednesday’s game.
Eric Young has played 52 major league games at second base but started there only once last year.
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