SAN FRANCISCO -- Daniel Murphy is hitting .436 in the Mets' past 10 games, but is on the bench for Monday's series opener against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner in favor of Ronny Cedeño at second base.

Collins said he has resolved to get his starters a game off this week, including David Wright on Tuesday or Wednesday. And Collins figured it was more appropriate for Murphy to sit against the hard-throwing Bumgarner, who is holding lefties to a .173 average, than when the Mets face soft-tossing southpaw Barry Zito on Thursday.

"With the weekend, with the way Murph's been swinging, I thought this would be the night, because I like him in there against Zito," Collins said. "... As we all talk about, and we talk about a lot, I need to get some of those other guys in."