New York Mets' Frankie Montas strains back muscle, out up to two months

Feb. 17 (UPI) -- New York Mets pitcher Frankie Montas sustained a high-grade latissimus dorsi strain and will be shut down from six to eight weeks, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Monday..

"He is on his way to New York right now to get a PRP [platelet-rich plasma] injection" to help his back, Mendoza said at spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Montas, 31, signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Mets in December. The right-handed veteran went 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA over 30 starts last season, which he split with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.

Montas went 44-46 with a 4.09 ERA over his first 160 appearances.

Mendoza said Montas will need a spring-training-like "ramp up" after his six to eight week shutdown, but he doesn't plan to reevaluate his plans for the Mets' six-man rotation.

Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Clay Holmes and Paul Blackburn are the other pitchers in the Mets' projected rotation.

"We've got options," Mendoza said. "We've got depth. It's still too early. Here we are dealing with an injury to one of the starters. We will continue to have those conversations."

The Mets will host the Houston Astros in their first spring training game Saturday in Port St. Lucie. They also will face the Astros in their regular-season opener March 27 in Houston.