Zack Wheeler injury: Mets RHP scratched with oblique strain

The New York Mets scratched right-hander Zack Wheeler from his scheduled outing today after he strained his oblique while hitting in the batting cage, reports Andy Martino of The New York Daily News.

Wheeler was replaced by Darin Gorski as the Mets' starter for today's spring training contest against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets have termed his injury as a mild oblique strain, and Wheeler told reporters, including Marc Carigof Newsday, he expects to be able to make his next scheduled start.

Obliques can be tricky, as several players have been sidelined for a month-plus as a result of the injury. However, it doesn't sound like the Mets or Wheeler are concerned.

Today would have marked Wheeler's second appearance of the spring, but it would have been his first start. He came out of the bullpen to hold the Washington Nationals scoreless over two innings of work on Saturday.

Wheeler spent the 2012 season between Double- and Triple-A, starting a total of 25 games while maintaining an ERA of 3.26. In three seasons in the minors, the 22-year-old owns a career ERA of 3.49 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.33.

Wheeler is already set to start the regular season in Triple-A, but he is a likely candidate to make an appearance in the bigs at some point this season.