Around NL East Spring Training, 3/12: Filling In For Reyes

Mets: With Jose Reyes out of action for the time being, 20 year old Ruben Tejada is looking like a strong possibility to be the Mets’ starting shortstop on Opening Day. Alex Cora is also hanging around, but Jerry Manuel seems to favor the rookie...Mike Jacobs hit his second homer of the spring on Thursday as he battles for a roster spot...Mack’s Mets takes a look at Mets prospects that a good fan of the team ought to know.

Braves: Derek Lowe, who left Wednesday’s game with a blister on his toe, is doing better and expects to start on Monday...Scott Proctor, returning from Tommy John surgery, should return to game action sometime around March 19th, says Bobby Cox...Jair Jurrjens is set to make his spring debut Friday morning.

Marlins: Hayden Penn is sporting an impressive mustache...an ugly outing from Leo Nunez on Thursday leaves open the possibility of another contender, such as Mike MacDougal, drawing consideration for the closer role...Joe Frisaro has an article up discussing Penn’s chances of making the team, in the rotation or in the bullpen...Brett Carroll has a new approach at the plate...Josh Johnson turned in a strong outing on Thursday, bouncing back from a rough debut.

Nationals: Catcher Devin Ivany and first baseman Josh Whitesell were assigned to minor league camp...Cristian Guzman is expected to return to camp on Saturday. Prospect Ian Desmond has taken advantage of Guzman’s absence, however, and stands a chance of taking over at shortstop sooner, rather than later...Federal Baseball makes its predictions for what the pitching staff will look like to begin the season. Absent? One Stephen Strasburg.

Phillies: Joe Blanton recorded 12 outs and kept 11 of them on the ground in a shutout appearance on Thursday...both games scheduled for Friday were rained out...starters Blanton, Roy Halladay, Jamie Moyer, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, and J.A. Happ have combined to allow five runs in 30 innings so far this spring.