Murphy's hot bat forces Valdespin to right field

ST. LOUIS -- Seeking to start Jordany Valdespin in Thursday's series finale against the Cardinals, Mets manager Terry Collins originally figured he would slot Valdespin in at second base. That is Valdespin's natural position, and it seemed like a fit with regular second baseman Daniel Murphy scuffling.

But Murphy, one of the streakiest hitters in baseball, nixed that plan by catching fire this week in St. Louis. So Collins instead started Valdespin in right field, which the manager had been hesitant to do due to Valdespin's inexperience there.

"Dan's swinging too good," Collins said. "So I just said, 'We'll put [Valdespin] in right field.'"

Entering the day with 58 career innings in right field, Valdespin spent an hour shagging fly balls there during batting practice earlier this week. Whatever range the Mets might lose defensively, Collins feels they make up with the potential of a big home run or extra-base hit -- anything to jumpstart their offense against Adam Wainwright, one of the best pitchers in baseball who threw a two-hitter in his last start.