49 Jonathon Niese, SP

Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese pitched well Tuesday against the Reds, as he continues to turn his season around. However one error in the first inning ultimately cost him the game.

Niese got the first two batters in the first inning out, but ran into trouble with a pair of two-out walks and a single that loaded the bases. He appeared to get out of the inning when Todd Frazier hit a groundball right at third baseman David Wright, however the ball went through the Gold Glove winner's legs, allowing two runs to score.

Three runs would ultimately come around to score in the first, all unearned, but that was all for Niese over six strong innings. He allowed five hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high seven batters. Unfortunately, those three runs would be enough to sink the Mets, in a 4-0 loss.

Niese took the loss, despite lowering his ERA to 4.80. He is 3-5 through his first 10 starts of the season. He is scheduled to make his next start Monday against the Yankees at home. 

All of that practicing in front of a mirror must have paid off for Jonathon Niese because the Mets' left-hander rebounded from two abysmal starts with 7 1/3 strong innings at St. Louis Thursday. Well, isn't that swell? Guess he's useful Fantasy option after all, so if someone cut him loose in your league, go ahead and make a play for him.

But don't assume he's back to normal. There's still that messy issue of the Mets instructing him to pitch to contact.

I don't mean to keep harping on something I heard once on an opposing team's broadcast, but with only three strikeouts again Thursday, Niese has no more than three in any of his last seven starts. He's averaging 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings this year after averaging 7.3 per nine last year.

If that doesn't change, I don't see how he's anything more than a matchups type in mixed leagues.

Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese had a strong start against the Cardinals Thursday.

Niese (3-4) had been struggling this season, and had reportedly worked on his mechanics recently. Niese pitched into the eighth inning Thursday, giving up two runs. He went 7 1/3 innings, giving up six hits, two walks and struck out three for the win.

Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese has been working on his mechanics, but a person close to the team says he's a mess, according to Metsblog.com.

Niese hasn't been able to command his breaking pitches this season and is overcompensating by falling into predictable routines. Niese has been working on his mechanics in a mirror, and is trying to stay "tall and straight on the hill." 

Niese will start Thursday against the Cardinals. He has a 5.93 ERA and a 5.34 FIP in 41 innings.

Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese has surrendered 15 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings over two starts in May, and he's taken interesting steps to get past his slow start. Niese has been working on his mechanics in front of a weight room mirror, MLB.com reports.

"Whenever I had free time, I just stepped in front of a mirror and went through my mechanics, and made sure everything's on line," Niese told MLB.com. "I can feel when it's right."

Niese added that he's over the back soreness that hampered him earlier this month. He'll try to turn his season around Thursday against the Cardinals.