Ruben Tejada landed on the disabled list Monday with a strained right quadriceps, which he suffered during a fourth-inning tumble approaching first base on Sunday at Citi Field. Jordany Valdespin, who was dispatched to Triple-A Buffalo after Saturday's game, is back and active for the series opener in Philadelphia.

Tejada had a significant cut on his left cheek Monday, but there are no current concerns about vision issues or a concussion. He said he fell as a result of the quadriceps injury -- not the opposite, that awkwardly falling caused him to be injured.

"The MRI yesterday confirmed the initial diagnosis of a right quad strain," assistant GM John Ricco said. "He was feeling a little bit better today, but still feeling something in the quad, which confirmed what the MRI showed."

Ricco added that the organization considered keeping Tejada active but not in the lineup for five days or so, but decided the DL was prudent given how much season remains.

"These strains can linger," Ricco said. "Rather than run the risk of him trying to come back too soon because he sees the team playing short, shut him down, let him recover and get some therapy, and we'll see where we are in 15 days."

Ronny Cedeno should be ready to return from the disabled list this weekend in Miami, Terry Collins said. At that point Cedeno will be the regular shortstop until Tejada returns. Cedeno (side muscle strain) was due to play five innings Monday in an extended spring training game.

Valdespin, 24, was 0-for-6 with a steal during his first cameo with the Mets. He is due to start at shortstop Tuesday. Collins did not want to alter Monday's lineup because Valdespin, although a natural middle infielder, mostly has been playing center field with Triple-A Buffalo.

As for a middle-infield defense of Turner and Daniel Murphy Monday, Collins said: "It's what we got."