Feeling stronger, Niese set for another MRI

NEW YORK -- Injured pitcher Jon Niese is scheduled for a follow-up MRI on his left shoulder Thursday, which should give him a better indication if the joint is healing.

"It feels a lot better, a lot stronger," Niese said Saturday, more than a week after doctors diagnosed him with a partial tear of his left rotator cuff. "I've just been doing a lot of rehab on it and it's getting a lot better. We'll see how it goes Thursday."

Niese estimated that, assuming his MRI comes up clean, he will need to rest for for two to three weeks before beginning a two- to three-week rehab progression. At that point, in mid-August, he could be ready to return to the Mets.

Though Niese called his initial MRI results last week "kind of scary," he believes he will be able to pitch again this season.

"I feel strong," said Niese, who is under team control through 2018 with a guaranteed contract through 2016. "I'm sure it will come up better."