Jon Rauch returned to action on Friday June 8.

Jon Rauch will be available out of the Mets' bullpen Friday after his right elbow checked out fine. Rauch is dealing with a minor case of inflammation, but he'll just pitch through it. He'll return to a setup role in front of Frank Francisco.

Jon Rauch will have his right elbow examined Friday to determine if he needs to be placed on the disabled list. The Mets think he merely has inflammation, but it could be bad enough to keep him out for a couple weeks. If Rauch does have to go on the DL, Jeremy Hefner will stick around as a long reliever.

Updating a previous item, Jon Rauch (elbow) was sent to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York for an examination. This comes on the heels of Mets manager Terry Collins revealing that Rauch has been dealing with "tenderness" in the elbow. We should know more about the severity of the issue in the next 24 hours.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday that Jon Rauch has been experiencing "tenderness" in his elbow and will have it "looked at." Even though it sounds like a lingering issue, Rauch was used in Monday's game against the Cardinals gave up a decisive two-run home run to Allen Craig in the eighth inning. The veteran right-hander has a 4.76 ERA and 13/4 K/BB ratio in 22 2/3 innings this year. Bobby Parnell would likely be the primary set-up man if Rauch needs to miss an extended period of time.

The Mets continued their roll on Monday, as Jon Rauch picked up with win with two hitless innings of relief. Rauch walked one batter and fanned another. He was fairly unreliable this spring, but has turned it up a notch with four nearly perfect innings to start the season.

Jon Rauch gave up three runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning Sunday against the Tigers. The Mets' big relief signings have both looked awful so far, with Frank Francisco having allowed runs in eight of 11 appearances and Rauch sporting a 7.94 ERA. If Francisco does lose his closer's gig in the early going, it will probably be to Bobby Parnell, not Rauch.

Jon Rauch said during a conference call Thursday that he is fully recovered from right knee surgery. "In Toronto, we weren't in a race, and the team doctors advised me at that time to shut it down and get it operated on," explained Rauch, who joined the Mets on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. "It was a very minor surgery. It was right there toward the middle of September. I've been finished with my rehab and physical therapy since before Thanksgiving. So right now I'm 100 percent, right where I need to be in my workouts and getting prepared for spring training and getting ready for the season." The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 4.85 ERA and 36/14 K/BB ratio over 52 innings last season. He is expected to set-up for Frank Francisco in 2012.

Mets signed RHP Jon Rauch to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. The deal, which was agreed upon last week then finalized on Wednesday, also carries some performance-based incentives. Rauch posted a 4.85 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 53 relief appearances this past season. He'll function as a setup man for New York in 2012.

Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM Radio reports that Jon Rauch's contract with the Mets will be for one year and $3.5 million. He says the deal also will include some incentives. Rauch also made $3.5 million last year with the Blue Jays, when he posted a 4.85 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 53 appearances. The Mets reportedly aren't done shopping for relievers, so it remains to be seen whether Rauch will be their closer.