Terry Collins has juggled his rotation to give Johan Santana extra rest after his 134-pitch no-hitter Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dillon Gee now will start Monday's series finale on standard rest, followed by Chris Young's season debut on Tuesday in Washington. Miguel Batista will be activated from the DL on Tuesday, Collins said, and serve as Young's backup as a hedge against a short outing as Young returns from shoulder surgery.

On Wednesday, Collins hopes to start R.A. Dickey on short rest. If not, Jeremy Hefner will pitch that day, Collins said.

Santana is due to start Thursday against the Nats.

Dickey pitching on Wednesday and Santana pitching on Thursday -- the current intention -- is subject to how both feel after throwing between-starts bullpen sessions Monday at Citi Field.

Jon Niese then can go on Friday at Yankee Stadium, followed by Gee and Young also in the Bronx as the rotation falls into order.

Dickey said he was curious how he would feel Monday, and was not signing off on the short-rest assignment until that bullpen session. He added that, despite the perception, it would not necessarily be easier for a knuckleballer to come back on short rest. Dickey also stipulated that he would not accept being on a shorter pitch count in order to come back Wednesday.

Dickey has pitched on short rest twice as a Met. He ended up tossing 8 1/3 scoreless innings against the Cardinals under that duress in 2010. Last season, he allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings against the Nationals.

"I don't have a real definitive answer at this point," Dickey said. "... Oftentimes the perception is that knuckleballers like to throw quite a bit. I do like to do that from time to time. But we'll see how the bullpen goes. I mean, after a complete game and whatnot, it's a little bit more taxing than if, say, you go six or seven innings. We'll see, but I'm open to it."

• Ruben Tejada will begin a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Buffalo, Collins said. The manager believes Tejada will be activated Friday in the Bronx.

• Jason Bay is due to play the field Monday with Class A St. Lucie after two games at DH. Collins said it is logical for Bay to primarily serve as DH next weekend at Yankee Stadium as well as during the following series at Tampa Bay. The remainder of Bay's rehab will be done with the Florida State League team at Bay's request, Collins acknowledged.

• Collins said Pedro Beato, who was eligible to be activated from the DL today, partly is a victim of a 40-man roster crunch. Once Beato is activated from the 60-day DL, the Mets will need to clear a 40-man roster spot. Beato will make at least a couple of more appearances with Triple-A Buffalo while technically still acting as a rehabbing major leaguer.

• Ramon Ramirez (hamstring) will not be placed on the DL until after a doctor's visit Monday, despite Robert Carson being summoned to New York on Sunday from Double-A Binghamton.