DETROIT — Jon Niese is almost in the clear for his next scheduled start.
The Mets lefty underwent a battery of tests at Henry Ford Hospital yesterday after experiencing a rapid heartbeat on Saturday in Texas.
Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said Niese passed an EKG, echocardiogram and treadmill stress test.
But the Mets are still waiting for the results of another test. Niese had a heart monitor attached to his belt during warmups before the Mets’ 14-3 triumph over the Tigers last night.
Niese will return the heart monitor today, at which time doctors will determine if there are any abnormalities.
After leaving Saturday’s start in the sixth inning, Niese said he has dealt with a rapid heartbeat before. Ricco indicated the team was unaware of that fact.
Niese’s next scheduled start is Friday night against the Yankees at Citi Field.
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Gary Carter isn’t scheduled to have another MRI exam until August, when doctors will look to see if the chemotherapy and radiation have made an impact on the Grade 4 glioblastoma he was diagnosed with in May.
In the meantime, the former Mets catcher has had other battles, including a bout with walking pneumonia, according to his daughter Kimmy Bloemers on a family website.
Carter did not return to the hospital and Bloemers wrote the family remains positive about the Hall of Famer’s battle.
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David Wright is expected to start hitting balls off a tee today in Port St. Lucie. Wright, who was cleared last week to begin baseball activities, has been fielding grounders without moving laterally, and doing core exercises to strengthen his back.
Wright is recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back.
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Manager Terry Collins said it was business as usual last night, despite making a homecoming of sorts. Collins grew up in Midland, Mich., about two hours from Comerica Park, and was expecting two busloads of fans from his hometown.
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Johan Santana still has not begun throwing from a mound. Ricco said Santana, who incurred a setback in his rehab earlier in the month, has been long-tossing and is close to taking the mound.
That needs to happen before the Mets can start the clock on the lefty’s spring training, which would likely take five to six weeks.