"ight-hander Frank Francisco didn't feel any pain as he threw on flat ground for the first time since Aug. 27, when pulled his latissimus dorsi muscle on his right side and land on the disabled list a day later.

He made 25 throws at 60 to 65 feet. He said he would throw again today, though Washington suggested that Francisco would have a day off. Either way, Francisco was optimistic that he would be throwing off a mound by late next week and a candidate for the postseason roster. "