Murphy sidelined with strained intercostal muscle

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The first injury of camp struck on Monday, when the Mets shut down second baseman Daniel Murphy indefinitely with a strained right intercostal muscle.

Murphy, who will fly to New York City on Tuesday for an examination and possible cortisone shot, said he has been feeling soreness in his side since the offseason. The Mets are being proactive with him after David Wright and Scott Hairston both missed significant time last spring with similar injuries. Both players received cortisone injections and made it back in time for Opening Day.

"Unfortunately it's something that happened," Murphy said. "But for it to happen early, I think we'll be able to get this out of the way, and I don't see it being a problem after the next week to 10 days."

Murphy said he played through some soreness in his midsection late last season and feels well enough that he could play if it were the regular season.

Since it is not, he will rest.

"You worry about everybody, but Dan Murphy's one of those guys that you can't stop him," manager Terry Collins said. "He's never had this before ... so he just wants to quiet it down now. If he misses the first two or three games, it's not a big issue."