New York Mets Place Justin Verlander on IL

MIAMI - The Mets have lost another member of their starting rotation and this time It's their co-ace.

Justin Verlander has been placed on the IL with a low grade teres major (armpit) strain. Verlander will continue playing catch and get re-scanned next Thursday.

But what this means is that Verlander will not start the third game of the season in Miami or the home opener next Thursday on April 6.

"It feels like crap," Verlander said on Thursday at LoanDepot Park. "Not the way I wanted my Mets tenure to start, that's for sure."

While Verlander is frustrated, he was a little relieved that his injury was to the teres major and not the lat.

"This isn't best-case scenario. But I would think this is probably second-base case. Very minimal."

According to the 40-year-old ace, he first felt discomfort in his final spring start. When he continued to feel it in his bullpen on Wednesday, that's when he said something and was sent for an MRI.

The Mets have not yet set a timeline on Verlander, but he is optimistic that he won't be sidelined for too long. And if it were the playoffs, he says he would've pitched through it.

"Being the beginning of the season, it makes too much sense to not push it right now."

Tylor Megill will replace Verlander's spot in the rotation. Megill was initially scheduled to start on Friday for Triple-A Syracuse, but he will now be joining the Mets in Miami to start on Saturday.

The Mets already had to add David Peterson to the rotation to replace Jose Quintana (rib surgery). They will now dip into their pitching depth once more to replace Verlander.

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