SARASOTA, Fla. -- Terry Collins said he plans to use his final spring-training batting order on Opening Day as well. So when the Mets face San Diego Padres right-hander Edinson Volquez on Monday at Citi Field, the lineup should be:
Collin Cowgill, cf
Daniel Murphy, 2b
David Wright, 3b
Ike Davis, 1b
Marlon Byrd, rf
Lucas Duda, lf
John Buck, c
Ruben Tejada, ss
Jonathon Niese, lhp
Collins believes the lineup should be relatively stable, except when backups need an occasional start or the Mets want to get an extra lefty bat such as Jordany Valdespin into the lineup against certain right-handers.
"Right now, it'll probably be what you saw today," Collins said. "... If there's some of those righties that are really tough on right-handed hitters, we'll get some left-handed bats in there. I mean, we've got to get Valdespin in the lineup sometimes also."
