New York Mets starting pitcher Jon Niese expects to make his next scheduled start, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
Niese exited Sunday night's start against the Washington Nationals with a left calf cramp. The injury flared up when he was facing Bryce Harper. Niese ended up walking Harper, and Terry Collins lifted the starter from the game.
The starter appeared unfazed by the injury, telling Rubin:
"I wasn't concerned. I knew it was a cramp. I actually wanted to stretch it out and finish the inning, but it is what it is."
Niese and Collins decided to be cautious with the pitcher because of the humidity, as Niese stated:
"It's that time of year. You've got to take care of your body. Today was tough, because it was so humid. I was crushing Gatorades and waters and still cramping up. I don't see it to be a problem"
The southpaw has been a bright spot for New York in a mostly disappointing season, posting a 3.66 ERA with a 52 percent groundball rate over 110 2/3 innings. Niese did miss over a month of the season with a partially torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.
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