Second baseman Luis Castillo, who stayed reasonably healthy while appearing in 142 games and batting .302 for the Mets last season, needs to sit out Friday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals. Castillo said he felt a “pull” in his right calf muscle while stealing second base in the third inning on Opening Day, although he remained in that game.

Manager Jerry Manuel indicated he planned to use Ruben Tejada at shortstop and Alex Cora at second base when right-hander Mike Pelfrey faces Nats right-hander Garrett Mock.

“I’ve been feeling it for a couple of days,” Castillo said. “I need a day. … It’s not a big deal."
Castillo also slid headfirst into first base Thursday to avoid a tag and pick up an infield single, stinging his left hand in the process. But the second baseman said that is a non-issue.

“I hit my hand a little bit, but I’m OK,” he said.

Tejada had some exposure to second base in the minors, including 14 games at the position last season with Double-A Binghamton. Still, Manuel believes, it’s best for Tejada to be at shortstop and Cora at second base to ensure the rookie is as comfortable as possible. Tejada has better range anyway.

“I feel much better at shortstop because all my life I’ve been playing shortstop,” Tejada acknowledged.

Tejada had a foul pop-out while pinch-hitting and then played the 10^th inning at second base Wednesday in his major-league debut. He went 0-for-2 in his first start Thursday -- during the Mets’ 3-1 rubber-game loss to the Florida Marlins. Tejada was beat up during the game. He got hit by a pitch on his left side in the fourth inning and became the recipient of a hard takeout slide by Hanley Ramirez in the ninth inning.

At 20 years, 219 days, he became the youngest player to start a major-league game at shortstop since B.J. Upton with Tampa Bay against Detroit at 20 years, 40 days on Sept. 30, 2004.

“I’m good. I’m good,” Tejada said about his health.

As for his maiden start, he said: “I feel good about my first start. But, at the same time, I feel bad because we lose the game.”

IGGY WITH IT: Right-hander Ryota Igarashi became the final member of the Mets’ bullpen to see action when he entered in the seventh inning. Igarashi became the 11^th Japanese-born player to represent the Mets, a night after left-hander Hisanori Takahashi became No. 10. Igarashi walked leadoff batter Cameron Maybin, then erased the Marlin by getting Ramirez to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Igarashi completed a scoreless inning in his debut by retiring Jorge Cantu on a pop-out.

“The initial walk was the result of just being nervous out there,” Igarashi said through an interpreter. “After I got that double play, I was able to resume my original style of pitching and get the job done.”

The Mets had designs on Igarashi emerging from spring training as the primary bridge to closer Francisco Rodriguez, especially with Kelvim Escobar opening the season on the disabled list with shoulder weakness. However, Igarashi underwhelmed, posting a 7.90 Grapefruit League ERA, and Pedro Feliciano and Fernando Nieve have become the most dependable options.

“For me, spring training is a time to attempt many things -- to make some adjustments, work on various pitches and whatnot,” Igarashi said. “Once the regular season started I was able to get back to my original style of pitching.”

POWER OUTAGE: Since David Wright went deep in the first inning on Opening Day off Marlins ace Josh Johnson, the Mets haven’t hit another longball. Normally, that’s not cause for alarm. But the Mets finished last in the majors last season with 95 homers -- considerably fewer than the 29th-ranked San Francisco Giants, who had 122.

“Like I said after the first day: This team is not built around hitting home runs,” Wright said. “They’re nice. I’m sure they’re going to come. This team is built around manufacturing runs, being a good situational hitting team. We haven’t gotten that real big hit the last couple of days. But, again, it’s early. We’ve got guys that are capable of getting that big hit, and it’s going to come.”

NIESELY DONE: Rookie left-hander Jon Niese had a solid 2010 debut. In his first major-league game since collapsing on the Citi Field mound last Aug. 5 with a torn hamstring tendon, Niese limited Florida to three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking two in a 92-pitch, six-inning effort that included 63 strikes. Niese was pleased with his cut fastball’s effectiveness against Florida’s righty-dominated lineup, although he wished he incorporated his curveball more.

“I felt great,” Niese said. “Even deep in the game I felt good. It really doesn’t cross my mind with the whole leg injury. I just go out there and treat it as a normal start.”

Said catcher Rod Barajas: “He pounded the strike zone. He faced some pretty good hitters and he did a lot of good things. You have to try to build on that. I caught him in the spring and I always said, ‘This guy has some good stuff.’ He’s got some special stuff, not just good stuff. He has the ability to be a real good pitcher at this level for a long time. Today was a little glimpse of that.

“I mean, he’s got a nice straight fastball. He’s got that cut fastball. He’s got a good curveball. And then his changeup is good. And he can throw a two-seamer. He’s got a variety of pitches he can go to. And, for me, they’re all average to above-average major-league pitches. Once he’s able to get a good feel for every single one of those pitches, he’s going to be tough.”

CHIP FLIP: The Mets hired an experienced third base coach in Chip Hale, but even veterans of the high-profile position can have slip-ups. Hale tumbled backward while waving home Jason Bay with the Mets’ lone run Thursday.

‘L’ NELSON: Nelson Figueroa, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets on Wednesday, took the loss in his first game in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform since 2001. Figueroa was charged with one run on a hit and three walks in two innings in Philadelphia’s 6-5 loss to the Washington Nationals on Thursday.