FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- In the midst of fighting for a playoff berth, two members of the New York Mets grappled with each other.

Shortstop Rey Ordonez suffered a cut above his left eye that required six stitches after an altercation early this morning with infielder Luis Lopez. The incident took place on the team bus that was returning to Shea Stadium from Newark Airport in New Jersey.

The Mets travelled to Newark after defeating the Houston Astros, 9-5, Wednesday night at the Astrodome.

"It is something that has been addressed internally," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "We feel confident it is something that is resolved and behind us."

Ordonez is day-to-day, but could play Friday night in the opener of a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies, Phillips said. The Mets are off today.

Lopez was not injured in the incident, Phillips said.

Both players met individually and together with Phillips and assistant general manager Omar Minaya. Phillips would not disclose if the players were fined or disciplined, nor would he discuss the nature of the dispute.

"It's not serious. It's one of those things that can happen in the course of a 162-game season," Phillips said.

Ordonez, among the premier defensive shortstops in baseball, is hitting .262 with no homers and 48 RBI. Ironically, one of the players that could replace Ordonez in the lineup is Lopez, who is hitting .208 with two homers and 12 RBI.

At 81-53, the Mets are 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East and four games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in the wild card chase.