NEW YORK -- Third baseman David Wright joined center fielder Carlos Beltran on the sidelines for the New York Mets before Friday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bodog.com lists the Mets as a -250 favorite to win the NL East.
Wright was a late scratch from the starting lineup, complaining of back spasms. Beltran, who left Thursday night's game against San Francisco after a collision with first baseman Rich Aurelia of the Giants, had an MRI on his bruised right knee. The results were negative and he was listed as day-to-day.
''It feels tight,'' Beltran said.
The injuries forced manager Willie Randolph to shuffle his lineup against the Diamondbacks, who came in with a seven-game winning streak.
Julio Franco replaced Wright at third base and David Newhan played left field with Endy Chavez in center replacing Beltran. Ben Johnson was in right field.
Franco, Newhan and Chavez are normally bench players for the Mets and Johnson was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans earlier this week.
The Mets were already without starting outfielders Moises Alou and Shawn Green. Both are on the disabled list, Alou with a strained quad muscle and Green with a broken bone in his right foot.
''We've got nine guys,'' Randolph said. ''We'll be fine.''
Randolph said he hoped Beltran would make a rapid recovery. ''He might feel good tomorrow and say he's good to go. He's moving around a little.''