Ruben Tejada (quad) went 1-for-2 with an RBI on Friday in his first rehab game with High-A St. Lucie.

Tejada, sidelined since the end of May with a right quad strain, also played five innings at shortstop. He was struggling even before the injury, so the Mets want to see results before they bring him back from the disabled list.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Thursday that Ruben Tejada (quad) has "got to go earn" the shortstop job back from Omar Quintanilla.

"Based on what we've seen right now, Ruben's got to go earn it back," Collins said of the starting job at shortstop. "He's got to go play, get his game together, get himself in top shape. We know he can." Tejada will begin a rehab assignment this week and should be activated from the DL before the All-Star break.

Ruben Tejada (quad) will begin a rehab assignment later this week for the Gulf Coast League Mets.

It's not clear how many games he'll need, but Tejada will move up to Triple-A Las Vegas before the end of the assignment. Manager Terry Collins expects Tejada to be added to the major league roster once he's ready, not optioned to Triple-A as had been previously speculated. It's not clear, though, how playing time will be divided between he and Omar Quintanilla at shortstop.

Ruben Tejada (quad) remains unable to do any lateral movements.

Tejada is limited to fielding grounders hit right at him, as well as hitting off a tee. He missed seven weeks with a right quad strain last season, and it's looking like he could miss that much time again, which would put his return in mid-July.

Ruben Tejada (quad) is fielding grounders without moving laterally and running in a pool

Tejada resumed running earlier this week and is slowly ramping up other baseball activities. It's not clear when he'll begin a rehab assignment, but considering how poorly he was playing prior to the injury, he shouldn't be assured a spot on the major league roster once he's back to full health.

Ruben Tejada (quad) did some running on Tuesday.

It's the first time he's done so since a strained right quad sent him to the disabled list late last month. Tejada will surely require a rehab assignment before being activated, and he's not guaranteed a return to the big league roster.

Ruben Tejada received an injection in his right quadriceps muscle on Thursday.

Tejada injured his quad on Wednesday night was placed on the disabled list Thursday. There's no clear timetable for his return, but it's worth noting that he missed nearly six weeks with a quad injury last year. He was staring a demotion in the face anyway, so the Mets will at least get the chance to send him on a minor league rehab assignment once he's back to full health. Omar Quintanilla will fill in at shortstop for now.

Mets placed SS Ruben Tejada on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle.

Tejada suffered the injury during Wednesday night's game against the Yankees. He has struggled mightily at the plate this season and was in danger of being demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, so there's an element of convenience to this. Justin Turner filled in at shortstop on Wednesday but is not really a solution there.

Ruben Tejada left Wednesday's game against the Yankees with a quad injury.

It's not clear at this point how severe the malady is, but it's worth noting that he dealt with a quad injury during spring training and last season. Tejada might have been in line for a demotion soon, anyway, so the Mets could hide him on the DL instead.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News was told by one "high-ranking Mets source" that the club continues to discuss a possible demotion for Ruben Tejada.

Tejada has been a massive disappointment this season, hitting just .209/.269/.264 through 49 games. Most recently on Tuesday night, he was picked off second base and had an odd defensive miscue. The most logical replacement is Omar Quintanilla at Triple-A, but he would have to be added to the 40-man roster. Quintanilla is also out of options, so the Mets would have to expose him to waivers if they wanted to send him back down.

Mets manager Terry Collins is giving Ruben Tejada a chance out of the leadoff spot.

Daniel Murphy has been hitting there recently, but he's back in the No. 2 spot on Monday night. Tejada is only batting .218/.280/.276 this season, but he has shown an ability to take pitches and make contact. Of course, he doesn't offer much in the way of speed or pop, so it doesn't give his value much of a boost in fantasy leagues.

According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Mets have discussed demoting Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, and Jordany Valdespin.

Davis doesn't come as a big surprise given his miserable slump, but Tejada has also been a major disappointment while Valdespin hasn't produced enough to be worth the distraction his presence causes on the roster. The Mets still see Davis and Tejada as potential long-term pieces, so any decision will be made with careful consideration about their development.

Ruben Tejada delivered a go-ahead RBI single in a 7-5 win over the Braves in 10 innings on Friday.

The single drove in Jordany Valdespin, who reached on a two-out walk and stole second base to get into scoring position. Tejada is hitting .333 (12-for-36) over his last nine games and has begun to get more looks out of the leadoff spot. Unfortunately, he doesn't offer enough pop or speed to be all that useful in mixed fantasy leagues.

Ruben Tejada will bat leadoff for the first time this season Tuesday against the Dodgers.

There's a chance this could become a regular occurrence against left-handed pitching. Collin Cowgill has batted leadoff against some southpaws this season, but he's hitting eighth Tuesday.

Ruben Tejada is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals.

Tejada suffered an ankle/foot injury in Friday's game and is considered day-to-day. Justin Turner playing shortstop and leading off for the Mets.

Ruben Tejada will remain the Mets' starting shortstop despite his recent defensive struggles.

Tejada has made six errors in 13 games this season, and four of them have been on throws. "He's putting a lot of pressure on himself," teammate David Wright said Wednesday. "You can just tell he's thinking about a lot of things instead of just playing. The ones that are reactionary plays, he's fine with. It's the one's he's got to think about. I've been there. Everybody has been there."

Ruben Tejada contributed a two-run double, a sac fly and a walk Friday against the Cardinals.

Tejada's miserable spring (he's batting .098) ensures that he'll open the season at the bottom of the Mets lineup, but given the poor alternatives, it'd be no surprise to see him hitting first before too long.

Ruben Tejada went 0-for-4 and committed an error at shortstop Friday versus the Braves.

With just three hits in 26 at-bats since returning from a strained quad, Tejada is having himself a rough spring. He's hurting his chances of keeping a spot in the top of the order, though he fits just fine there after posting OPBs of .360 and .333 the last two seasons.

Ruben Tejada (quad) returned to the Mets' lineup Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Tejada missed two games with a right quad injury. It was never a major concern.

Ruben Tejada (quad) is expected to return to Grapefruit League action on Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Tejada was scratched on Monday night because of a cramp in his right quad. It was never a major concern.