Mets infielder Daniel Murphy lands on DL with quad strain

PHOENIX -- The New York Mets' depleted lineup took another hit Friday when Daniel Murphy landed on the disabled list with a left quadriceps strain.

Murphy was pulled from Thursday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning after feeling tightness in the muscle while running out a grounder.

The Mets promoted infielder Danny Muno from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Muno had been demoted only two days earlier when the Mets dropped to four bench players to accommodate the activation of Dillon Gee and the launch of a six-man rotation.

Manager Terry Collins said doctors do not consider the strain severe.

"It's frustrating because I'm not going to be able to be with these guys after this trip for a little bit," Murphy said. "I think the news could have been worse. And there's definitely worse things happening on earth than me having to go on the DL."

Despite occupying first place in the NL East by a half-game over the Washington Nationals, the Mets have struggled offensively, meaning the loss of Murphy is a particular jolt. Since May 1, he is hitting .342 (40-for-117) with 15 RBIs.

Collins had just shifted Murphy from second to third base on Thursday because captain David Wright will miss several more weeks with lumbar stenosis in his back.

The Mets also are without catcher Travis d'Arnaud and second baseman Dilson Herrera. Both played five innings in the field for Class A St. Lucie on Thursday night and could return from the disabled list within a week.

D'Arnaud originally landed on the DL with a fractured right pinkie. He suffered a setback last week when he developed a bone bruise in his right wrist while on a rehab assignment. Herrera is returning from a fractured tip of his right middle finger.

The Mets also flew in infielder Wilfredo Tovar from Memphis, where their Triple-A affiliate was playing. However, Tovar was returned to Las Vegas without being activated. The Mets wanted Tovar in Phoenix in case Murphy was deemed day-to-day and not a DL candidate, since Muno would have been ineligible to be recalled only two days after being demoted.

In selecting Muno, the Mets again passed on middle-infield prospect Matt Reynolds,a former second-round pick from the University of Arkansas.

Collins said the Mets wanted to promote a third baseman. Although that was Reynolds' position in college, he primarily has played shortstop with Las Vegas, with limited second-base exposure. Muno, unlike Reynolds, also is already on the 40-man roster.