Mets LHP Sean Manaea (oblique) to start season on IL

New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea suffered an oblique strain and will likely begin the season on the injured list.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Monday that Manaea will be shut down "for a couple of weeks" after an MRI on Sunday revealed the strain.

"The good news is this is not -- the tendon is not involved, the rib cage is not involved," Mendoza said. "It's just straight muscle, so he's going to be shut down for a couple of weeks -- and then we'll reassess after that. We've gotta build him back up again. Safe to say that he's probably gonna start the season on the IL."

Mendoza added: "It could take seven, 14, 21 days to heal. And then once he's symptom-free, he'll start his throwing."

The Mets are also without right-hander Frankie Montas (lat strain) until mid-May.

Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are set to top the Mets' starting rotation to begin the season. Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill will compete for the final two spots until Manaea and Montas return.

Manaea, 33, went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts with the Mets in 2024, earning a three-year, $75 million deal with the club in December.

He is 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA in 228 career appearances (198 starts) for the Oakland A's (2016-21), San Diego Padres (2022), San Francisco Giants (2023) and Mets.

--Field Level Media