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Familia ready to begin Class A rehab assignment

NEW YORK -- Injured reliever Jeurys Familia is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Class A St. Lucie. Familia, who has been on the disabled list since May 9 with right biceps tendinitis, will also pitch for Triple-A Las Vegas before returning to the Mets.

Familia has already spent two stints on the big league roster this season, most recently posting a 2.70 ERA over seven appearances from mid-April to early May.

The news is not nearly as encouraging for former closer Frank Francisco, who has not appeared in a game since cutting short his own rehab assignment on May 8. Currently battling a strain of the flexor pronator in his right arm, Francisco has not pitched in the Majors since undergoing offseason surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

The bullpen as a whole has recovered nicely without Familia and Francisco, entering Friday's play with a 0.77 ERA over its last four games. But Mets relievers still rank 28th in the Majors, due in large part to their struggles from late April through early May.

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo.
Read More: New York Mets, Frank Francisco, Ike Davis, Jeurys Familia