JUPITER, Fla. — Jon Niese improved to 2-0 in the MRI category on Monday, but the Mets still aren’t ready to pencil in the left-hander for an Opening Day start.
With an eye toward Niese and another on the clock — the opener against the Nationals at Citi Field is March 31 — manager Terry Collins said he will probably wait through this weekend before deciding on his rotation alignment for the beginning of the season.
Niese has been told he can resume throwing Wednesday or Thursday, after an MRI exam in New York revealed no structural damage to his left elbow. It was the second MRI this spring for Niese, who earlier in camp had his shoulder examined, with no structural damage found.
If Niese can’t pitch the opener, Collins is leaning toward bestowing the honor upon Bartolo Colon or Dillon Gee.
“We certainly have an [alternative] plan,” Collins said after the Mets’ 10-7 exhibition loss to the Marlins. “There is no doubt we’re going to have to look in another direction. I’m not sure if Jon is going to get his pitch count to where we need it, but probably by the end of the weekend we’ll make that decision.”
Niese threw only 35 pitches against the Cardinals on Sunday before incurring soreness in the elbow and leaving the game. The Mets would ideally like to have him throw 80-plus pitches before giving him the ball for the opener.
Last year, Niese became the Opening Day starter after Johan Santana underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
Among Niese’s ailments this spring have been soreness in his triceps and upper back in addition to the latest elbow crankiness.
“I’m not sure how many MRIs you’re allowed to have in a month before we start worrying about things,” Collins said. “But his arm has been looked at in every which way and direction and there’s certainly nothing in there.
“It’s about making sure he realizes he’s got to go out and finish out the spring and try to stay as healthy as he can and get his arm and the pitch count up. [Get] his arm strength back in his shoulder and be ready for when we need him.”
Collins’ options include keeping Niese in Port St. Lucie to make an additional start after the team breaks camp. Niese could then conceivably pitch the fourth or fifth game of the season.
If Niese were to need a prolonged absence, the Mets could go with Jenrry Mejia or John Lannan in his spot.
But Lannan hardly stated his case on Monday, when he surrendered five earned runs on eight hits and four walks over 3 ¹/₃ innings. The veteran lefty is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA this spring.
“I think I just had a bad day, really,” Lannan said. “It’s pretty hard to explain at this point of the season. I was feeling pretty good — I still felt pretty good out there and it’s just one of those days everything didn’t come together.”
If Lannan isn’t needed in the rotation, he is expected to land a spot in the bullpen, giving Collins a second lefty behind Scott Rice. Collins indicated he plans to give Lannan at least one appearance from the bullpen to see how he adapts.
“We’ve at least got to have John come out of the pen once, just to see what it looks like, to have him get warmed up come into a game and face a lefty,” Collins said. “We’re going to try to do that, but he’s lengthened out enough, he threw 75 pitches today, he’s at the point where one more outing he’s at 90. We can get him a couple of bullpen outings.”