Niese was sent back to Pittsburgh to have his knee examined Tuesday, but he is still expected to start Saturday against the Cubs, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is the first that any issue with his knee has come to light this year but supposedly it's not a serious issue, as the team does not anticipate him missing any time. Of course, that could change if the knee exam reveals a notable injury. Niese has a 4.87 ERA and 1.52 WHIP and his 15.6 percent K-rate ranks ninth worst in baseball among qualified starters.

Niese (7-6) allowed just one run on seven hits, struck out three and walked one over 5.2 innings in a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw failed to complete six innings for the fourth time in the last five starts, and the Cardinals were able to make solid contact most of the day, but this was still easily Niese's best outing since early June. Over his last four starts, he allowed 21 runs, 33 hits and nine walks in 21.1 innings (8.86 ERA). Only one walk Monday helped him work around base runners every inning. Niese is now 7-6 with a 4.87 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 98 innings.

Niese (6-6) allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in a loss Tuesday to the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Niese has given up four earned runs in each of his past four starts and watched his ERA rise from 3.93 to 5.07. He gave up a home run to Nelson Cruz, a two-run shot, that marks the 19th homer Niese has allowed in just 16 starts this season. Seven of those homers have come in Niese's past four starts, and if he can't figure out how to keep the ball in the yard quickly, his rotation spot will be in jeopardy.

Niese (6-5) pitched six innings, allowing five runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out four in Thursday's loss to the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Niese has unexpectedly imploded over his last three starts. From May 16 to June 7, Niese went 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in six starts. However, in his last three outings, the southpaw has given up 17 earned runs on 24 hits -- including six homers -- while watching his ERA balloon a full point over that span. Niese will attempt to get back on track in his next start Tuesday in Seattle.

Niese (6-4) allowed four runs on six hits over 5.1 innings against the Cubs on Saturday. He walked four and struck out five in the loss.

EDGE Analysis

Two of his four loses this season have come at the hands of the Cubs. They've rocked him for 10 runs on 15 hits in 10.1 innings, bloating his ERA to 4.74 with the most recent beating. The four walks issued were a season high, and he needed 99 pitches (second most in any start this year) to get through the inefficient performance. The southpaw will look to rebound when he takes the hill for his next start Thursday against the Giants, a team he held to a personal-best .157 BAA in 2015.

Niese was rocked for eight runs on 11 hits and one walk across just 5.1 innings in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

The left-hander had a Sunday to forget, as he set season-highs in runs and hits allowed while tasting defeat for the first time in over a month. Niese had allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last six starts heading into Sunday, so his fantasy owners will hope this rough outing is just a blip on the radar and that he can regain his previous form when he faces the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

Niese (6-2) allowed no runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings to earn the win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Niese only needed 91 pitches to get through his seven innings of work, and he left with a three-run lead which the bullpen held onto with little problem. He's now held opponents to two or fewer runs in each of his last five starts to lower his ERA to 3.93. He'll make his next start Sunday against the Cardinals.

Niese's scheduled start Monday against the Mets has been rained out and he will instead start Tuesday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates will skip Juan Nicasio's scheduled start Tuesday and go with Francisco Liriano on Wednesday to close out the series. Niese has just a 4.36 ERA but has been the hot hand of late with four straight starts of two runs or less. That makes him an easy choice over Nicasio, who is coming off a quality start but recorded an awful 6.75 ERA in May.

Niese tossed five innings against the Marlins on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six. He didn't factor in the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Niese fell short of a fifth straight quality start, but he's allowed two runs or less in his last four outings, so there's no question he's ben very good of late. The lefty lowered his ERA for the fifth game in a row and now it sits at 4.36, and will try to continue his streak in his next start against the Mets on Monday.

Niese (5-2) surrendered seven hits, an earned run and a walk over six innings in Friday's 9-1 victory over the Rangers. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

It was Niese's fourth straight quality start, and second consecutive where he only surrendered an earned run. He threw 62 of 93 pitches for strikes Friday, and notched first-pitch strikes on 15 of 26 batters. Niese has now given up only four earned runs over his last 19 innings, and has lowered his ERA from 5.94 to 4.42 since the calendar turned to May.