Mets activate Daniel Murphy, demote Dilson Herrera to Triple-A

NEW YORK -- The Mets have activated Daniel Murphy from the disabled list for Tuesday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Rookie Dilson Herrera has been demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move.

Murphy strained his left quadriceps on June 4 at Arizona. He played in four rehab games with Class A St. Lucie.

Murphy played third base in Tuesday's 1-0 loss and figures to remain there for the duration of David Wright's absence, with Ruben Tejada at shortstop and Wilmer Flores at second base.

Flores, who opened the season at shortstop despite limited range, officially moved to second base in Sunday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds.

Murphy batted fourth in Tuesday's lineup and went 1-for-4 with a double. The Mets desperately can use his bat in the lineup, before Sunday's seven-run output against Cincinnati in the finale, which included four RBIs from debuting pitcher Steven Matz, the Mets had scored 15 total runs in their previous 10 games.

"It's great to have him back," manager Terry Collins said. "He's a huge part of our lineup, his offense. We need him back in there.

"I think you'll see a different middle of the lineup. You add that one guy that can help out, and it just takes the pressure off the other guys."

Murphy however downplayed the notion that his return can suddenly ignite the team's offense.

"I wish I could come in and tell you I'm gonna get a whole bunch of base hits, I can't control that," Murphy said. "Hopefully I just get good pitches to hit and hit them hard."

Wright is undergoing physical therapy in Los Angeles, trying to manage stenosis -- a narrowing of the spinal cavity in his lower back, which is pressing on a nerve. He is at least a month away from returning.

Herrera, 21, hit only .195 with two homers and four RBIs in 82 at-bats at the major league level this season. He regularly had been playing second base in recent weeks with Murphy idle.

Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Kieran Darcy contributed to this report.