Mets' Sean Manaea to miss start of season because of oblique strain

Feb. 24 (UPI) -- New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea was diagnosed with an oblique strain and will likely start the season on the injured list, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Monday.

Mendoza said Manaea felt the injury inside his right oblique since the start of spring camp, but continued throwing. He underwent an MRI on Sunday, which revealed the strain.

"The good news is that the tendon is not involved, rib cage is not involved, so it's just straight muscle," Mendoza said. "He is going to be shut down for a couple of weeks. Then we will reassess after that. We've got to build him back up again. It's safe to say he is probably going to start the season on the injured list."

Manaea, 33, went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts last season for the Mets. The news of his injury came a week after Mendoza announced that fellow Mets starter Frankie Montas sustained a back muscle strain and would be shut down from six to eight weeks.

Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are set to lead the Mets' rotation. Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megil are among the other options to fill spots in the amid the absences of Manaea and Montas.

Mendoza also told reporters Monday that infielder Nick Madrigal sustained a fracture in his left shoulder and will be "out for a long time." Madrigal sustained that injury during a split-squad spring training game against the Washington Nationals on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Madrigal was expected to compete for a bench spot on the opening day roster and serve as a backup for star shortstop Francisco Lindor.

The Mets will face the Houston Astros in another spring training game at 1:05 p.m. EST Tuesday in West Palm Beach.