NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton found it painful to watch the Marlins during his time on the disabled list because 1) they played poorly while he was on the mend from arthroscopic knee surgery and, 2) there was not one thing he could do to help.
"It was not fun to sit and watch these past few weeks," Stanton said. "You don't want to watch the team lose the whole time and there were things you maybe could have helped or changed the game."
Stanton, who has not played since July 7, was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday and inserted into the lineup. Ozzie Guillen has him batting fifth.
"He makes the lineup a little better," Guillen said.
The Marlins not only went 8-17 in Stanton's absence, but traded a handful of key players when the front office recognized the team wasn't going anywhere this season.
Guillen said Stanton might require a day off here and there until he reaches full strength. He'll also continue to bat fifth, at least until Emilio Bonifacio returns from the DL. Bonifacio was examined Tuesday by the surgeon who repaired the torn ligament in his left thumb back in May and was told the latest injury to the same ligament is not nearly as severe as the it was the first time.
"Boni is good, thank God," Guillen said. "They don't have to go in to to fix it."
As a result, Guillen said he expects Bonifacio will be able to return to the lineup when he is eligible to como off the DL on Aug. 19. At that point, Guillen indicated he might move Jose Reyes back into the leadoff spot and have Stanton bat third.
Reyes, who continues to hit third, takes a 24-game hitting streak into tonight's game against his former team. A hit tonight will move him into a tie with Kevin Millar for the third-longest hitting streak in Marlins history.
-- To make room for Stanton on the roster, infielder Donnie Murphy was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury.
-- Logan Morrison was scheduled to receive a second opinion on his injured right knee in Denver on Tuesday. Marlins president David Samson said there is still a chance Morrison will return this season.
-- Guillen said that tonight's starter, Wade LeBlanc, will be limited to 85 pitches.
Tonight's lineups:
Marlins: 1. Donovan Solano, 2b; 2. Justin Ruggiano, cf; 3. Jose Reyes, ss; 4. Carlos Lee, 1b; 5. Giancarlo Stanton, rf; 6. Austin Kearns, lf; 7. Nick Green, 3b; 8. John Buck, c; 9. Wade LeBlanc, p.
Mets: 1. Ruben Tejada, ss; 2. Daniel Murphy, 1b; 3. David Wright, 3b; 4. Scott Hairston, rf; 5. Jason Bay, lf; 6. Ronny Cedeno, 2b; 7. Andres Torres, cf; 8. Josh Thole, c; 9. Jonathon Niese, p.
Umpires: HP -- Gary Darling; 1B -- Paul Emmel; 2B -- Scott Barry, 3B -- Jerry Meals.
