Frankie Montas and left-hander Sean Manaea are both set to start the season on the injured list, but the Mets believe they’re in a good spot.

Well, that plan has now been altered, as Manaea has sustained a right oblique strain in the early days of Spring Training. Manaea will miss Opening Day and is most likely looking at a late-April return. He joins fellow starting pitcher Frankie Montas, another offseason signing, on the shelf.

Over the offseason, Mets officials made a strategic decision to build their rotation based on depth rather than ceiling. Instead of pursuing the top arms available in free agency, the team cast a wider net,