<
        >

          New York Mets

          Niese tunes up for Sunday start vs. Reds

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterApr 1, 2014, 07:52 PM ET
            Close
              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
              Follow Adam on Twitter »  Chat archive »
            Follow on X

          NEW YORK -- Jonathon Niese appears ready to return from the disabled list Sunday to face the Cincinnati Reds.

          Niese logged 4 2/3 innings and tossed 76 pitches in a minor-league intrasquad game Tuesday night in Port St. Lucie, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out four.

          It marked Niese's second time pitching against minor-league competition since receiving a cortisone injection in his pitching elbow to alleviate inflammation.

          "For the most part, I think I’ll get better with each start," Niese said. "I’m still kind of in the process of getting my arm in shape, but my next outing will be 90 or 95 pitches. The timetable is still the same."