Mets' Manaea has oblique injury, likely to start season on IL
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said starting pitcher Sean Manaea will be shut down for a couple of weeks with a right oblique injury, according to Tim Healey of NewsdaySports.
The lefty is likely to start the season on the injured list.
"Nothing grabbed or anything like that, I was sore and was like, 'OK, that's interesting,' and then it just never really got any better," Manaea said of the injury, per SNY.
"(An oblique injury) is a very new thing for me, I've never had anything like this before."
The Mets consider Manaea's injury to be a short-term issue and expect him back at some point in April, a source told The Athletic's Will Sammon.
Manaea returned to the Mets this offseason on a three-year, $75-million contract after a career season. He recorded a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 184 strikeouts over 181 2/3 innings pitched in 2024.
New York's rotation, which is also without Frankie Montas, is down to Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes. Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning, and Tylor Megill are all candidates to step up.
"We feel good with our depth. We feel good with the options that we have in camp," Mendoza said, per Healey.
Mendoza also said the team will be without infielder Nick Madrigal "for a long time" after his MRI revealed a fracture in his left shoulder, according Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Manaea owns a career 4.00 ERA (102 ERA+) through nine MLB campaigns.