Mets scratch Jon Niese from Saturday start with left shoulder tendinitis

Jon Niese has been pitching well lately, with just three earned runs allowed in his past three outings. That's not surprising considering what many Mets fans expected from Niese at the beginning of the season, but it is surprising when you take into account the news today that Niese has been suffering from shoulder tendinitis.

Jon Niese left shoulder tendinitis. Skip "at least" one start. Has been bothering him past few starts. #mets

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) May 30, 2013

Collin McHugh will reportedly start in Niese's place on Saturday in Miami. McHugh has been roughed up in a couple of relief outings with the Mets, but he was pitching very effectively in the Pacific Coast League earlier in the season. There's a decent chance for him to give the Mets a good start against a Marlins lineup that isn't a huge step above what he was seeing in Vegas.

As for Niese, it would be great to see him miss just the one start and get back to giving the Mets a good chance to win on days when Matt Harvey doesn't play.