Fernando Nieve to start for Mets against Yankees on Saturday

Nieve to start for Mets on Saturday

NEW YORK — Fernando Nieve will start for the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on Saturday after John Maine went on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder weakness.

Nieve was brought up from Triple-A Buffalo on June 5 after going 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA in four starts with the International League team. He has made one appearance for the Mets, throwing two scoreless innings against Washington on June 6.

A 26-year-old right-hander who made his major league debut with Houston in 2006, Nieve has a 3-4 career major league record with a 4.54 ERA in 11 starts and 41 relief appearances.

Maine is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 starts this season. He last pitched in a loss to Washington on Saturday, allowing seven earned runs on six hits in four innings, and the DL move was retroactive to Sunday.

To fill his roster spot, the Mets purchased the contract of left-hander Jon Switzer from Buffalo before Friday’s Subway Series opener at Yankee Stadium.

Switzer was 0-2 with a 2.13 ERA for Buffalo. The 29-year-old has spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues, all with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has a 2-4 record with a 6.11 ERA in 68 games, all in relief.