NEW YORK -- The Mets lost one of the Majors' leading hitters on Sunday, when Jeff McNeil departed in the first inning of the Mets' 8-7 win over the Pirates after being hit on the right shin by a pitch. McNeil, however, does not expect his injury to linger. X-rays taken at Citi Field came back negative, revealing only a contusion.

McNeil said he should be fine to return to the Mets¡¯ starting lineup when they open a three-game series Tuesday in Chicago.

¡°You¡¯re always a little scared when you get hit, and it hurt pretty bad,¡± McNeil said. ¡°We thought it was best to not play the rest of the game and see how it feels on Tuesday.¡±

Facing Chris Archer in the bottom of the first, McNeil took an 89-mph slider off his shin, which was protected by a plastic guard. Although he was in some pain as he walked down the first-base line, McNeil shrugged off manager Mickey Callaway and a member of the training staff when they came out to check on him. He eventually scored on Michael Conforto¡¯s two-run homer, but when McNeil¡¯s lineup spot came up again later in the inning, Aaron Altherr pinch-hit for him.

¡°It hit that little spot that activates your toes going up and down, and it was pretty stiff,¡± Callaway said. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be fine in a couple of days, but we¡¯ll continue to monitor him.¡±

McNeil, who earned his first All-Star nod earlier this month, ranks second in the Majors with a .336 batting average.