Mets' injury outlook positive despite Tatis heading to DL

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets still expect star outfielder Carlos Beltran to return after the All-Star break, while shortstop Jose Reyes plans to be back in the lineup Tuesday after missing nearly a week with a sore back.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel revealed the positive injury outlook Monday, just as the club was placing versatile Fernando Tatis on the disabled list with a sprained right shoulder.

Beltran has been out all season after having right knee surgery in January. He's been making steady progress on a rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie, where he went 2 for 4 and played a full nine innings Monday in center fielder.

"We anticipate him to be a part of us right after the break," Manuel said. "I think he had a couple of setbacks with the weather, as far as getting on the field and those types of things, but if all goes well we should see him in San Francisco."

The Mets begin a difficult 11-game trip against the Giants on July 15.

"It's like adding a guy before the [trade] deadline. You're talking about a real good, five-tool player," Manuel said. "A switch hitter who sits in the middle of the lineup, I would think that would be very good for us."

Reyes was scratched from the lineup against the Florida Marlins last Wednesday in Puerto Rico because of tightness in his lower back and hasn't played since.

The speedy shortstop, who was picked to his third All-Star team on Sunday, took some swings before the series opener against Cincinnati and should start Tuesday night.

"He can swing from the right side right now, as we speak," Manuel said.

Tatis, meanwhile, had been hampered by his right shoulder since early in the season, one of the primary reasons he's been mired in a significant slump. Tatis was hitting just .185 with two homers and six RBI.

"He's had some problems with it since spring training," Manuel said. "That has a lot to do with the fact that he wasn't able to get the bat into a position of strength with that shoulder. I guess the doctor looked at him today and decided it was the best thing."

The Mets recalled left-handed reliever Raul Valdes from Triple-A Buffalo to take his place. They needed an extra arm in the bullpen anyway after using five relievers in a 9-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.