PHOENIX — When the Mets’ clubhouse opened Friday, Daniel Murphy’s jersey and pants hung in his locker, as if he would be playing that night. Perhaps it was the product of wishful thinking. But when a player’s health is involved, not much has gone right for the Mets this season, and this was nothing more than a tease.
The Mets somehow started the day in first place in the N.L. East, and before their game against the Diamondbacks, they dealt with a day’s worth of bad news. Murphy was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained quadriceps.