Mets' Starling Marte: Trending toward weekend return

The Mets could activate Marte (knee) from the 10-day injured list as soon as this weekend, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Marte began a rehab assignment last Wednesday and has appeared in three games in the minors, going 2-for-7 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base. The first two of those games came at Single-A St. Lucie before he shifted his assignment to Double-A Binghamton on Sunday. Though Marte hasn't experienced any setbacks with the bone bruise in his right knee while on assignment, the Mets want him to get in some more action in the upper levels of the minors before reinstating him. More specifically, manager Carlos Mendoza said that Marte needs to play seven innings in right field on back-to-back days before the Mets would feel comfortable bringing back. Marte had been the Mets' everyday right fielder before he landed on the shelf June 25, but he may have to settle for a timeshare or even the short side of a platoon at the position after New York added the lefty-hitting Jesse Winker to its outfield ranks ahead of the trade deadline.