Kirk Nieuwenhuis (knee) tossed a baseball and hit in the cage Thursday. Nieuwenhuis has missed a week and a half due to a bone bruise in his left knee. While the Mets plan to have him increase baseball activities in the coming days, he will be eased back into running. The 25-year-old was expected to open the season as the team's starting center fielder, but now Collin Cowgill appears to be the favorite.