New York Mets pitcher Jon Niese left Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals with pain in his left knee, per Adam Rubin of ESPN.com. He was placed on the disabled list after the game, and it's unclear when he'll return to the field.
Continue for updates.
Niese Placed on DL
Tuesday, Aug. 23
The Mets announced they had called up pitcher Erik Goeddel to take Niese's spot on the roster.
Niese Comments on Injury
Tuesday, Aug. 23
Niese told reporters he understands he needs a stint on the disabled list and said he's felt knee pain since June. He added he felt a pop and a "sharp shooting pain" in his knee during the at-bat against Brandon Moss.
Rubin noted Mets manager Terry Collins was actually concerned with Niese's knee before he took the mound on Tuesday. Robert Gsellman took Niese's place, as the starter lasted a mere 0.1 innings and allowed three earned runs and two walks.
Niese Struggling to Find Form for Mets
Niese has struggled for the Mets this season and sported a 9.28 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 10.2 innings for the team entering Tuesday's contest. He was more effective for the Pittsburgh Pirates but still posted a pedestrian 4.91 ERA in 23 appearances before New York reacquired him. Niese pitched for the Mets from 2008 to 2015 as well.
Niese has never finished a season with an ERA lower than 3.40 in his entire career.
This is yet another blow to an injury-riddled rotation. New York reached the World Series last year largely on the back of a starting pitching staff that finished fourth in baseball with an ERA of 3.44, per ESPN.com. With many of the same pieces coming back, elevated expectations were in place for the 2016 campaign as well.
However, injuries have largely hampered those expectations for the third-place Mets, although they were still only 4.5 games back of a wild-card spot on Tuesday.
Injuries have impacted the New York pitching staff, with Matt Harvey out for the season following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, Zack Wheeler not returning this season following setbacks after Tommy John surgery and Noah Syndergaard suffering a bone spur in his elbow this year.
What's more, Steven Matz's shoulder tightness landed him on the disabled list.
The Mets can ill afford another injury to their starting rotation, even if Niese has struggled mightily for them this year.
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