Beltran worked out Tuesday for the first time since straining his left oblique, and he could be ready to come off the disabled list by week's end. He ran, played catch and hit for the first time since the injury, and -- for the most part -- felt normal.

"Running and playing catch was fine," Beltran said. "But we weren't going crazy out there. It's the first day since I got hurt that I'm capable of doing work."

The problem was hitting. Beltran said he felt about 75 percent swinging from the left side, but only 50 percent from the right side after a session of soft toss. He'll take batting practice for the first time Wednesday, and plans on taking hacks from both sides of the plate.

He's also eager to rejoin the team as soon as he can -- even if that means joining at less than 100 percent.

"I don't think anyone here feels 100 percent," Beltran said. "The way I feel today, I feel like I've gained confidence for [Wednesday] to go out again and do a little bit more."

Beltran didn't make the recent road trip to Milwaukee and Chicago, staying home to heal. And while it has helped to heal him physically, it may have also managed to fracture his psyche. He couldn't be there when Tom Glavine won his 300th game, and he couldn't be there as the Mets played some of their best ball of the season.

Beltran couldn't, in fact, do much of anything.

"Sitting home without doing anything, I get crazy," Beltran said. "I get bored. The last few days I've had a bat in my room. I've been swinging at home, trying to get a feel for something, trying to feel better. Watching those games, watching Glavine get to 300, it would have been a great experience for me."

Pedro primed: Months of eager anticipation have come and gone. Now, there's only one last step standing between Pedro Martinez and a Mets uniform.

And that step begins Wednesday.

Martinez will make his long-awaited first rehab start with the St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday night against Class A Lakeland. The game will mark the first time Martinez has played a game that counts in 11 months, and -- barring setbacks -- should keep him on schedule to return to the Majors by month's end.

Castillo quenched: Luis Castillo was feeling markedly better after leaving Sunday's game early due to heat exhaustion, and was back in the lineup Tuesday, playing second and batting in his customary two-hole.

Castillo hasn't just been overheating physically -- he has been sizzling at the plate, as well, racking up six hits over the past two games and stealing two bases Sunday. So it was no surprise that the Mets were eager to have him back.

"It was just a temporary thing," said manager Willie Randolph. "He just got a little exhausted with the heat and everything. He had some fluids the last couple of days, and should be good as new."

Last hurrah: Glavine will have one last chance to savor his 300th win -- this time in front of the Shea faithful -- before Sunday's matinee against the Marlins.

The Mets will honor Glavine with a pregame ceremony, including a video tribute and presentations from teammates.

Down on the farm: Top prospect Phil Humber struggled for Triple-A New Orleans in a 6-4 loss to Fresno on Monday, walking four and allowing five runs in four innings. He's now walked eight in two starts since the non-waiver trade deadline, posting a 6.75 ERA.

This date in Mets history -- Aug. 8: A two-run single by Donn Clendenon was the critical hit in a three-run rally in the ninth inning that carried the Mets to a 4-1 victory against the Braves in Atlanta in the first game of a doubleheader on this date in 1969. A single by Felipe Alou off Ron Taylor in the 10th inning drove in Clete Boyer with the decisive run in the Braves' 1-0 victory in the second game.

Jon Matlack allowed two singles and two walks in a complete-game performance in the Mets' 1-0 victory against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on this date in 1973. Jerry Koosman pitched a four-hitter against the Dodgers the following night and lost, 1-0. On this date in 1988, 10 days after Bobby Ojeda had shut out the Pirates, 1-0, at Shea Stadium, Rick Reed pitched eight scoreless innings in his big league debut in what became a 1-0 Pirates victory against Ojeda at Three Rivers Stadium.

Coming up: A pair of the game's top veteran right-handers square off in the second of three games between the Mets and Braves at Shea, starting at 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Orlando Hernandez (7-4, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Mets, who have won the last five games El Duque's pitched, opposite Atlanta's John Smoltz (10-6, 3.04 ERA).