"While the Mets' hopes of having David Wright back with the team for the start of the second half have faded, the third baseman is still making progress from the stress fracture in his lower back that has sidelined him since May, and expects to start rehab games by Friday.

In a published report, Wright said he expects to begin playing rehab games in Port St. Lucie "sometime in this next week," with the Mets pointing to Friday's game in Lakeland for his debut with the Class-A team.

Manager Terry Collins has said he expects Wright to need somewhere between 30 to 40 at-bats before he's ready to return to the Mets, which translates to either sometime against the Cardinals at Citi Field next week or in Florida against the Marlins next weekend.

The Mets have been without Wright and first baseman Ike Davis (foot) since mid-May, and while they have managed to stay above .500 without their two corner infielders, they could use Wright's power sooner rather than later."