Curtis Granderson back in lineup a day after HBP

April 3:

Curtis Granderson is in the starting lineup on Friday, a day after leaving the game early after getting hit in the right knee with a pitch.

Granderson told reporters the knee is still a little sore but that he’s fine to play.

With Granderson back in the lineup and Daniel Murphy expected to join the team in Washington, D.C., the Mets project to have all of their expected starting position players available on Opening Day.

April 2:

On Thursday afternoon against the Cardinals, Curtis Granderson was hit by a pitch in the right knee. Granderson ran the bases after being hit, but did not return to the outfield in the bottom of the inning.

Granderson told ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin after the game that the ball hit him in “as good of a spot as possible,” adding that he’s “a little sore from it” and will see how it feels tomorrow in Texas.

Regarding the hit by pitch potentially impacting his readiness for Opening Day, Granderson told Rubin that it’s “nothing major,” noting that he’ll “keep moving around, get it loose and go from there.”

Thoughts from Danny Abriano:

As Granderson noted, four days before Opening Day is just about the worst time to get drilled in the knee with a pitch.

Fortunately for Granderson and the Mets, though, this doesn’t sound like anything major.

There’s always a chance this could impact Granderson’s availability for Opening Day, but it’s very hard to see this turning into a disabled list situation.

In the event Granderson has to miss a few games, the Mets would likely turn to Kirk Nieuwenhuis to fill in for him in right field.