JUPITER, Fla. — Ruben Tejada’s right quadriceps is “fine,” according to manager Terry Collins, putting the shortstop in position to rejoin the Mets lineup either Wednesday or Thursday.
Tejada was scratched from the lineup on Monday because of what the team called a cramp in the quad. It raised concerns given Tejada missed nearly two months last season with a strained right quadriceps.
Omar Quintanilla played shortstop for the Mets Tuesday in their 7-5 loss to the Marlins.
* Cory Mazzoni continues to make a strong impression on the Mets. The 23-year-old righty pitched three perfect innings yesterday after throwing two scoreless frames on Saturday against the Nationals.
“He has been everything I heard about him,” Collins said. “This winter I had some people tell me, ‘Wait until you see [Rafael] Montero and Mazzoni.’ I saw Montero. I had not seen Mazzoni throw, but I was certainly anxious to see him and he’s been very impressive.”
* Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria denied he told Jose Reyes to buy a house in the Miami area just days before the blockbuster trade that sent the shortstop to Toronto.
Loria said he spoke to Reyes at a dinner before the trade.
“I asked if he had been to Miami,” Loria said. “He said he was looking at houses, his wife was down there. He said he was going to Dubai.
“Three of four days later, [Marlins president of baseball operations] Larry [Beinfest] called me with what he wanted to do. I immediately called [Reyes’] agent, Peter Greenberg, and said, ‘I want you to call Jose, just make sure he doesn’t buy a house.’ That’s the essence of it all.”
* Justin Verlander is scheduled to make the trip to Port St. Lucie on Friday with the Tigers to face the Mets.