ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols could be back in the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup as early as Tuesday night, beating the initial timetable for his return from a broken left wrist by a month.

After taking indoor batting practice and fielding grounders outside on Monday, Pujols said there was no pain and added that he felt great. He's scheduled to be examined by team physician Dr. George Paletta on Tuesday morning.

"I can't wait to get back on the field," Pujols said. "Hopefully, it can be tomorrow. If it's not, whenever the time comes will be the right time to play."

Tuesday is the first day Pujols is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list. He broke the wrist in a collision at first base trying to make a tag with his glove hand of the Royals' Wilson Betemit on June 19.

"Oh yeah, he's ahead of schedule," manager Tony La Russa said. "No doubt."

The team initially believed the three-time NL MVP would be out six weeks and could return at the start of August. Pujols underwent a CT scan Friday that indicated fast progress and said he'd been hitting for about a week with the wrist taped.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak anticipated Pujols would wear a soft cast for a month. But he said he wears it sporadically and left it in his car Monday.

"If I have any pain, I don't think I'd be swinging the bat," Pujols said. "Whenever I start swinging outside, you guys are going to see."

The Cardinals lost five of their first six games without Pujols but had recovered lately and were 5-7 overall entering Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Manager Dusty Baker said Pujols' rapid recovery doesn't "shock me. That's Albert."