Mets RHP Justin Verlander headed to IL

New York Mets right-hander Justin Verlander will be placed on the injured list with a low grade teres major strain, the team announced Thursday.

The Mets said Verlander "will continue throwing at moderate intensity" and be re-evaluated in a week.

"The good news is he'll continue to throw," general manager Billy Eppler said.

MLB.com reported right-hander Tylor Megill will take Verlander's spot in the rotation.

Signed to a two-year, $86,666,666 contract, Verlander is coming off one of the best seasons of his career to help the Houston Astros win the World Series.

Verlander, 40, went 18-4 and posted a career-best 1.75 ERA across 28 starts to win his third Cy Young Award.

He is MLB's active leader for strikeouts, with 3,198 in his career, which is also good enough for 12th all-time. Teammate Max Scherzer has 3,193 strikeouts.