Streaming Pitcher for April 10: Jonathon Niese
By Bill Pivetz
Mar 13, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese (49) throws against the Atlanta Braves at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
My fourth streaming pick this week is New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese. The Mets have a good rotation and with a favorable matchup on Thursday, Niese is worth the spot start.
Niese, as the Mets’ No. 4 starter, can make it four straight quality starts for the Mets (Bartlolo Colon, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom) against division rival Atlanta Braves.
The Braves are not one of the best hitting teams, especially since the team lost its power supply. The Braves’ runs scored have been two, six, two, five, two, 12 and two. Notice a pattern? The Braves have scored two runs in four of their first seven games.
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Niese isn’t a bad pitcher, either. Last season, he finished with a 9-11 record (the Mets hitters didn’t provide much run support), 3.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 30 starts.
He did mention shoulder fatigue in the spring, but it relieved once he changed his delivery. Now that teammate Zack Wheeler is out with Tommy John surgery, Niese is all but guaranteed a rotation spot. I would be concerned with two straight years of shoulder problems. I wouldn’t roster Niese for the whole season, so you could easily part with him if he does land on the DL.
Niese is owned in just 4.5 percent of ESPN.com leagues. If you missed out on other spot starters like a Taijuan Walker, then Niese is the next available pitcher. Niese does not strike out a lof of batters, 6.6 K/9 in each of his last two seasons. However, he allowed just 0.6 and 0.8 HR/9 in the same time span and induces a lot of grounders to opposing hitters.
Niese won’t excite you on the mound. Though, you should expect him to power through seven innings and give up just two runs to a poor Braves lineup. On a day with limited streaming options, Niese is a good pick up.