DENVER — Ruben Tejada may have to show more than sound health to reclaim his starting job with the Mets.
Manager Terry Collins yesterday said the shortstop, who is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend at Single-A St. Lucie, should consider himself in a battle for the job with Omar Quintanilla.
“Based on what I’m seeing right now, Ruben has got to go earn it back,” Collins said before the Mets beat the Rockies 3-2 at Coors Field in a makeup of a game postponed on April 17. “He’s got to go and get his game together and get himself in really top shape — we know he can.”
Tejada was fighting to remain in the major leagues when he strained his right quadriceps on May 30 in a game against the Yankees in The Bronx. Collins indicated Tejada likely will need at least two weeks in the minor leagues once he begins his rehab assignment.
Quintanilla is batting .242 with two homers and nine RBIs and has impressed team brass with his steady defense.
“I’m sure we’ll look up in two weeks and [Tejada’s] numbers will probably be very good, and when that time comes, if he plays good, we’ll have a decision to make,” Collins said.
Tejada is batting .209 with no homers and 10 RBIs.
* Zack Wheeler worked with pitching coach Dan Warthen before the game on trying to eliminate his habit of tipping pitches.
“I don’t necessarily think it was a big habit,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to change it up and try some new things.”
Warthen said he worked with Wheeler on hiding his pitches better.
“Basically it comes with setup,” Warthen said. “Open up his glove and put it at the waist.”
The right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen session at Citi Field today, when he will test his new setup.
* Collins said the Mets’ previous trip to Colorado, when games were played in frigid conditions in April, may have contributed to Jon Niese’s arm troubles.
Niese also pitched in freezing temperatures in Minnesota a week before facing the Rockies. The lefty was placed on the disabled list last week with a partially torn rotator cuff.
“Jon pitched both games in just brutal conditions and I think it took a toll on him,” Collins said. “I think it beat up his body and he had to work extra hard.
“He would come in and would get so chilled between innings it was tough to get loose. So now he had to work harder to keep himself warm and I just think it took a beating on him.”
* David Wright missed only his second start of the season after it was agreed he should take a day off to rejuvenate. Zach Lutz got the start at third base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Wright said his goal is to play at least 155 games this season.
“You obviously play better when you are rested,” Wright said. “Especially the way I want to play, it’s much better when I’m rested. I don’t think it would be beneficial to anybody if I went out there and didn’t get an occasional rest.”
* Matt Harvey and Dillon Gee, who are scheduled to pitch the next two games, respectively, for the Mets against the Nationals, flew back to New York on Wednesday to give them extra rest.