MLB

Mets’ Niese ready for new start

Jon Niese isn’t thinking about tonight’s start as returning to the scene of the crime.

It was last Aug. 5 against the Cardinals at Citi Field that Niese’s future with the Mets was placed in jeopardy when he tore his right hamstring tendon while covering first base.

After subsequent surgery and extensive rehab that lasted almost to the start of spring training, Niese is back and ready to face the Marlins.

“I’m going to go out there and treat it like any other game,” he said yesterday.

The lefty showed the Mets enough in spring training to not only claim the final spot in the rotation, but to leap-frog ahead of struggling Oliver Perez, who won’t pitch until Saturday.

“Jonathon was a guy in spring training who was one of our better pitchers,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “I expect him to pitch well, just as he did all spring.”

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Jose Reyes will be evaluated today following an extended spring training appearance in Port St. Lucie and could be cleared to make his season debut on Saturday against the Nationals.

“The physical conditioning part of it is going extremely well,” Manuel said. “He’s getting enough at-bats.”

Reyes went 1-for-5 yesterday in a minor-league scrimmage.

Ruben Tejada, who made his major league debut last night as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning, is expected to make his first start at shortstop tonight.

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The Phillies claimed Nelson Figueroa off waivers, giving the Mets one less veteran pitcher in the minor leagues as insurance — the team still has lefty Pat Misch at Triple-A Buffalo.

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Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco was charged with a ball by umpire Laz Diaz when he tried out a new rule that allows pitchers to touch their fingers to their mouths while still on the mound.

Nolasco got it wrong when he licked his fingers while standing on the rubber with Mike Jacobs at the plate in the first inning. A rule change this off-season allows a pitcher to go to his mouth on the mound, but not while he is touching the rubber. Previously pitchers were only allowed to touch their fingers to their lips and mouths off the mound, provided they wipe their hand before gripping the ball.

Mets reliever Fernando Nieve was penalized on Opening Day when he failed to wipe his hand before gripping the ball. — with AP