MLB PLAYER NEWS

Niese to come off DL to start Monday for Mets

The Sports Xchange

July 21, 2014 at 12:59 am.

Niese, 27, is 5-4 this season with a 2.96 earned-run average. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

SAN DIEGO — The Mets get a boost for their second-half hopes when left-handed starting pitcher Jon Niese comes off the disabled list to pitch the opener of a three-game series in Seattle.

Niese has been on the disabled list since July 5 with a left shoulder strain — more specifically an inflammation in the AC joint in the shoulder.

Niese, 27, is 5-4 this season with a 2.96 earned-run average. But he has been battling shoulder and elbow soreness and has been limited to 17 starts. Niese has an opponents’ batting average of .250 and has 74 strikeouts against 28 walks in 103 1/3 innings.

Niese left his July 4 start after pitching only one-third of an inning against the Texas Rangers. He went on the disabled list the following day.

Niese will be the only left-hander in the Mets rotation, joining right-handers Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee, Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom.