Niese left Tuesday's game against the Cardinals in the first inning with an apparent injury, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He faced four batters before leaving the field with a team trainer (21 pitches). It wasn't obvious what was ailing Niese, but he came into the game battling knee soreness and this is presumably related. Robert Gsellman replaced Niese on the mound with one out in the first inning.

While Niese will start Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, manager Terry Collins said Niese's left knee is still not 100 percent, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niese is apparently feeling good enough to start Tuesday, but there is a chance the sore knee he has dealt with since earlier in August could force him from the game early. In that case, Robert Gsellman would likely be counted on for multiple innings in relief.

Niese (knee) has been confirmed as Wednesday's starter against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran lefty is set to take the hill for Wednesday's start in the desert, replacing Logan Verrett in the rotation for at least one outing. Niese owns a 5.20 ERA on the year and he allowed six earned runs in just one inning when he faced the Diamondbacks on Aug. 11.

Niese (knee) is likely to replace Logan Verrett in the Mets' rotation on Wednesday in Arizona, Newsday's Marc Carig reports.

EDGE Analysis

Verrett got roughed up in Friday's start, so the Mets can justify making a change, even though Niese's numbers as a starter this season with Pittsburgh were pretty poor (5.13 ERA, 71:36 K:BB in 101.2 innings). This is all dependent on Niese's knee checking out, however. He had the knee drained and said he felt great Friday, and the Mets actually believe that Niese starting would help his knee, The Record's Matt Ehalt reports. Ideally, Niese will revert back to his marginal success as a starter back when he was with the Mets the first time around, as he never missed many bats, but he posted an ERA under 4.00 in three of his last four seasons in New York.

Niese is dealing with a knee injury, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

At this point, the severity of Niese's injury is unknown, as is his availability to pitch this weekend. With a 5.20 ERA and 1.58 WHIP, Niese has been a liability on the mound this season, especially since being acquired by New York. Over six innings (four games) with the Mets, Niese has allowed seven earned runs.

Niese has been traded back to the Mets in exchange for Antonio Bastardo, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old has struggled this season with the Pirates, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 110 innings. Niese will head back to the Mets, where he found success as a starting pitcher. Niese should slot in as the fifth starter for the Mets, with Zack Wheeler still on the disabled list and Matt Harvey done for the season.

Niese has been moved to a role coming out of the Pirates' bullpen, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niese's difficult first half of the season, including a brutal last six starts in which he recorded a 7.92 ERA and a WHIP just under 2.00, ultimately cost him his spot in the rotation. He'll now be used as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen, but his experience as a starter could lead to him being used as an innings-eater when the starter fails to make it deep into a game.

Niese (7-6) lasted just 3.2 innings Sunday, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three, but was able to escape with a no-decision in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

He got an extra day to rest his sore knee, but it did Niese little good against the buzzsaw Cubs offense. He's been able to last six innings just once in his last six starts, and Niese's 5.13 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in the first half should be causing the Pirates' front office to consider their options for his rotation spot if they want to stay in contention for a postseason berth.

Niese (knee) is starting Sunday's game against the Cubs, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niese got an extra day to rest his sore knee after his Saturday start was bumped back to Sunday. He'll now toe the hill against John Lackey and the Cubs. Niese will look to end the first half of the season on a high note as he's struggled in his last five outings, going 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA and 1.89 WHIP over 27 innings.

Niese (knee) will have his next scheduled start bumped back to Sunday against the Cubs, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niese was originally in line to start Saturday, but he'll effectively get bumped back to the final day before the All-Star break, which will give him a bit of extra time to rest a sore knee. Additional testing on that knee did not seem to reveal any serious damage, so look for Niese to remain in the rotation following the break as long as he continues to perform well for Pittsburgh.