Tejada day to day with left elbow contusion

NEW YORK -- Mets infielder Ruben Tejada left Friday's 2-1 win over the Reds in the top of the fifth due to a left elbow contusion, half an inning after taking a Johnny Cueto fastball off the joint. Tejada is day to day, but will likely sit Saturday.

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"He's pretty stiff right now," Mets manager Terry Collins said immediately after the game. "That's why I took him out. He might need a day."

Video: CIN@NYM: Tejada makes a diving grab at third

Tejada, 25, has been playing third base most nights for the Mets, and figures to become the team's everyday shortstop once Daniel Murphy returns from the disabled list -- potentially as soon as Sunday, given Murphy's nine-inning, 4-for-5 performance in a rehab game Friday with Class A Advanced St. Lucie.

The team tentatively plans to move Wilmer Flores from short to second base at that time, though any lingering soreness in Tejada's elbow could disrupt that.

Playing third base Friday, Tejada finished 0-for-1 to lower his season average to .254 in 42 games. He initially stayed in the game after being hit by Cueto's 94-mph fastball, but Eric Campbell replaced him on defense to open the top of the fifth.