Frank Francisco is unavailable to pitch Wednesday due to tendinitis in his throwing elbow.

The good news is that an MRI didn't reveal any structural damage, but anytime the elbow is involved it has the potential to be more than a day-to-day situation. The Mets are likely to use Bobby Parnell during save chances while Francisco is on the shelf, though Jon Rauch has been their best reliever in the second half.

Put into a save situation in the ninth, Frank Francisco walked two and gave up a double to the three batters he faced Sunday against the Braves.

The Mets went to Josh Edgin up 6-1 to start the bottom of the ninth, but after he loaded the bases with two outs, creating the save situation, Francisco came on. He immediately walked Juan Francisco and Michael Bourn to make it 6-3, and after getting ahead 0-2 on Martin Prado, he gave up a two-run double down the right field line. The Mets turned to Jon Rauch at that point, and Rauch struck out Jason Heyward to end the game (though the ball got away and Heyward almost reached first base). Francisco hasn't blown a save since coming off the DL, so he's probably going to continue to close for now. However, he's looking awfully shaky.

Frank Francisco told the New York Post recently that he's dealing with a right lat injury.

Francisco's health remains a concern, but the Mets are desperate for bullpen help. Manager Terry Collins doesn't expect him to pitch more than two days in a row, and confirmed Bobby Parnell will retain partial closing duties.

Mets activated RHP Frank Francisco from the 15-day disabled list.

As anticipated, Francisco will rejoin the Mets bullpen. It's unclear if Terry Collins will immediately thrust him back into the closer's role, or continue to give chances to Bobby Parnell while he settles back in. Francisco returns to an underwhelming 1-3 record and 4.97 ERA while converting 18-of-21 save chances.

Frank Francisco (oblique) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Friday, but now is also dealing with soreness in his lat.

Francisco tore the lat in 2010, and figures that the injury occurred while overcompensating for the oblique injury. While he's still likely to rejoin the Mets bullpen, manager Terry Collins said that he's unlikely to be used on back-to-back days as the injury tightens up after pitching.

Frank Francisco (oblique) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday.

Francisco has put together four straight scoreless appearances, including one each of the last two nights. Though he might be eased back into things, he has a good chance to eventually reclaim his closer job, as Bobby Parnell has been scored upon in four of his last eight appearances.

Frank Francisco (oblique) is scheduled to appear with Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Mets aren't pushing the veteran reliever after he felt some soreness in his side late last week. He'll have made four rehab appearances after Wednesday, though, and seems likely to rejoin the Mets' bullpen after that if he doesn't have another setback. Bobby Parnell seems likely to keep the closer job initially upon Francisco's return.

Frank Francisco (oblique, knee) threw a scoreless rehab inning Sunday at Double-A Binghamton.

Francisco was scratched from a scheduled appearance Saturday due to soreness in his side, but it was only a minor setback. Hes' on track to return to the Mets' bullpen at some point this week, though Bobby Parnell may hang on to the ninth-inning gig.

Frank Francisco did not make a scheduled rehab appearance Saturday due to soreness in his side.

Francisco was expected to work in a second straight game Saturday night with Double-A Binghamton but never showed. The Mets were hoping to activate him on Monday, but that might have to be pushed back a little bit.

Frank Francisco (oblique, knee) will be activated from the disabled list for Monday's series with San Francisco.

Francisco will make his final rehab appearance Saturday before rejoining the Mets. It remains to be seen whether he'll regain his closer status, but its possible he'll initially be used in a setup role for Bobby Parnell.

Frank Francisco (oblique, knee) will make another rehab appearance with Double-A Binghamton on either Thursday or Friday.

Francisco looked a little rusty in his first appearance Wednesday, giving up one run on three hits over two-thirds of an inning, so it's not surprising that the Mets want to give him another tuneup. He might rejoin the big club after that.

Frank Francisco (oblique, knee) struggled in his first rehab appearance with Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday, giving up one run on three hits over two-thirds of an inning.

Francisco walked one and struck out one while throwing 14 out of 24 pitches for strikes. The beginning of his rehab assignment was pushed back a day after he received a shot in his right knee, but he's on track to rejoin the Mets' bullpen within the next few days.

Frank Francisco (oblique, knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton Wednesday.

Francisco went on the DL in late June with an oblique injury and had his first rehab game pushed back after needing a shot for his achy knee. He should only need a couple rehab outings before rejoining the Mets bullpen.

Frank Francisco (oblique) won't begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Class A Brooklyn due to discomfort in his right knee.

Francisco, currently on the disabled list with an oblique strain, was given a shot in the knee. It's not clear when he'll be ready for game action. Bobby Parnell will continue to handle save chances in the short-term.

Mets manager Terry Collins hopes Frank Francisco (oblique) will be ready for rehab games by next Friday.

Francisco has been sidelined since June 22 with a strained left oblique and has already experienced one setback. He is scheduled to throw a side session Friday and again on Sunday. Bobby Parnell will continue to fill in at closer for now, though he has been rather shaky of late.

Frank Francisco has been shut down due to a recurrence of a left oblique injury.

Francisco was getting close to a rehab assignment this week, but Mets manager Terry Collins said "he just didn't feel right." Bobby Parnell will continue to close during his absence and is probably the superior option at this point, anyway.

Frank Francisco (oblique) is expected to begin his rehab assignment Wednesday.

Francisco made it through a bullpen session Friday without any issues and is on track to return shortly after the All-Star break. He's scheduled to make four appearances before rejoining the Mets' bullpen.

Frank Francisco (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Friday.

If that goes well, he'll be cleared to begin a rehab assignment soon. Francisco will make four rehab appearances before rejoining the Mets' bullpen, putting him in line to return not long after the All-Star break.

Frank Francisco traveled to Port St. Lucie on Saturday to continue his rehab from an injured oblique.

Mets manager Terry Collins offered a vote of confidence to Francisco earlier this weekend, saying that the right-hander would return to his regular ninth-inning role upon activation. But Bobby Parnell could make things interesting if he's able to dominate heading into the All-Star break. Francisco has not yet resumed throwing.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Frank Francisco (oblique) will resume the team's closer role when activated from the disabled list.

"When Frank comes back, if he's throwing like he was, that's his job. That's why we brought him here," Collins said. "I'd like to hopefully get him back right where he was." Bobby Parnell has dominanted this season, and converted his first save chance Thursday, but is expected to return to a setup role when Francisco comes off the DL.