Mets NLDS notes: Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Steven Matz, Sean Gilmartin, lineup, lefties

LOS ANGELES -- The Mets held a final workout at Citi Field in New York on Wednesday morning before hopping on a plane to Los Angeles, where they will workout on Thursday at Dodger Stadium in advance of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. New York's 25-man NLDS roster is nearly finalized, save for one decision, per multiple reports.

Juan Uribe is out with a chest injury, so outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis — who was designated for assignment by both the Mets and Angels this season before returning to New York — will take his roster spot.

"I've been on so many roster bubbles that I have experience in that part of the game," Nieuwenhuis said, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. "I've learned over the course of four years that that's not something you can control. As cliché as that sounds, there's nothing you can do. All you can do is go play the game the way you know how."

Steven Matz will pitch a simulated game on Thursday at the Mets' complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. to determine his readiness to start Game 4.

If Matz isn't able to start, Bartolo Colon will start Game 4, and lefty reliever Sean Gilmartin will take Katz's roster spot, per DiComo. Otherwise, Colon will be a reliever for New York in the NLDS.

Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters on Wednesday that his Game 1 lineup against southpaw Clayton Kershaw would feature left-handers Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda, per Marc Carig of New York Newsday:

"We're going to run out what we think is the best lineup, because if we can get to him, that bullpen, they're going to bring in those righties anyway," Collins said. "You might as well let them play the game and see what we can do. We've competed out there before with that lineup, and we're going to stick with it."

Michael Cuddyer will start in left field over Michael Conforto, per Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, who also noted that Ruben Tejada — 5-for-14 (.357) with three walks against Kershaw — will start at shortstop in place of Wilmer Flores, who found the least-fun diet in recent days:

Collins reiterated that Ruben Tejada should be his starter at shortstop in Friday's opener against the Dodgers. Wilmer Flores lost 10 pounds in a recent five-day span while dealing with strep throat, but Collins was inclined to start Tejada anyway because of superior fielding as well as success against Clayton Kershaw.

Rubin's updated 25-man projection for the Mets shows only two left-handed pitchers - Jonathon Niese plus either Matz or Gilmartin.

The Mets will hold a workout at Dodger Stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m. PT on Thursday.