(Sports Network) - The injury bug has struck again for the New York Mets.
Expected to be without shortstop Jose Reyes and infielder Daniel Murphy, the Mets will move on with tonight's opener of a four-game series versus the San Diego Padres at Citi Field.
Both Reyes (hamstring) and Murphy (leg) went down in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game series, and it appears Murphy could be lost for the year. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Murphy will land on the DL and Ruben Tejada is expected to replace him on the roster.
Murphy needed to be helped off of the field after Jose Constanza slid into his left shin on a play at second base.
"He's a tremendous teammate, a guy that everybody roots for, he's the type of guy that's easy to root for," said Mets third baseman David Wright, who moved over to shortstop when Reyes left with a left hamstring ailment. "Of course, you think of his well-being after something like that."
Reyes injured himself while running out a ground ball in the first inning. He missed 12 games from July 3-18 with a Grade 1 strain of the same hamstring and is batting an NL-best .336 with 37 RBI, 34 stolen bases and 16 triples. Willie Harris drove in two runs and Jason Bay extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 3-for-3 performance and three runs scored for New York, which has lost six of seven games and is 1-4 on a rain-shortened nine-game homestand.
Dillon Gee started for the Mets on Sunday and did not record a decision, as he allowed five runs and six hits in five innings. Bobby Parnell was saddled with the loss for surrendering the go-ahead run in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Mike Pelfrey will try for better results for the Mets when he makes his 24th start of the season Monday. Pelfrey is 1-2 over his previous five starts and did not record a decision in last Monday's 7-3 setback versus Florida. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- and six hits in six innings to remain at 6-9 this season to go along with a 4.48 ERA.
Pelfrey, a right-hander, is 3-1 in nine starts at Citi Field this season and 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in five career starts against San Diego.
The Padres will continue their 10-game road trip this evening and swept Pittsburgh in three games over the weekend to kick off the excursion. In Sunday's 7-6 triumph at PNC Park, Mat Latos struck out seven batters over seven innings of two-run ball, while Logan Forsythe drove in three runs and Will Venable tallied three hits, two RBI and a run scored.
"I just got locked in. Me and [catcher Luis Martinez] clicked and just went right after hitters," Latos said.
Kyle Blanks and Orlando Hudson both scored twice for San Diego, which has won four in a row and five of its last seven games. Padres third baseman Chase Headley did not play Sunday after he fractured his left little finger in Saturday's 13-2 blowout of the Buccos. He is expected to fly back to San Diego to be examined by team physicians. Prospect James Darnell was added to the roster late Sunday and was hitting .317 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tucson.
Headley is hitting .292 this season with four home runs and 43 RBI. He leads the team in hits (107), doubles (28), RBI (43) and walks (51).
Taking the mound for the Friars in Monday's series opener with New York will be Tim Stauffer. Stauffer is aiming to even his 7-8 record over 23 starts and has a solid 2.96 earned run average. He had dropped two in a row and three of four starts before beating Los Angeles in a 3-0 verdict last Wednesday, when he delivered 6 1/3 shutout innings.
Stauffer, a right-hander, lost his only start against the Mets back August 9, 2009. He allowed one run in five innings of a 5-1 loss that day.
San Diego and New York are meeting for the first time since splitting six matchups a year ago. The Padres, who will also visit Cincinnati for three games on this trek, have won seven of the previous 11 meetings with the Mets.