--CF Carlos Beltran enters Friday's series opener against the Braves with a nine-game hitting streak, during which he's hitting .400. During his past 15 games, Beltran has four doubles, six home runs and 19 RBIs.
--C Brian Schneider should continue to get the bulk of the action behind the plate, even with Ramon Castro (strained quadriceps) expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday. Castro typically has started against left-handed pitchers. But while the Mets will see southpaws, Mike Hampton and Jo-Jo Reyes, in the opening two games of the weekend Atlanta series, interim manager Jerry Manuel expected Schneider would start anyway. --3B David Wright tied a career high with four hits Wednesday against the Nationals. It was the 10th time in his career Wright had four hits.
--LHP Johan Santana, who opposes Atlanta's Mike Hampton in Friday's series opener, hasn't lost since getting outdueled by the Yankees' Andy Pettitte on June 28. The Mets have won Santana's last seven starts.
--RHP Joe Smith won both games during the midweek, two-game Nationals series. The sidearm thrower tossed a combined three scoreless innings.
BY THE NUMBERS: 283 -- Steals by SS Jose Reyes through Sept. 10, the day he broke the Mets' all-time record. Mookie Wilson had 281.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was good. I'm starting to get the stroke back. It's been a hectic year. I don't want to throw this last month away. I want to build on things, try to get back to how I was in the first half and finish strong." -- RF Ryan Church, whose grand slam Sept. 3 in Milwaukee was his first home run since June 1, before a seven-week absence to deal with post-concussion symptoms.
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