<p>PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco strained his right hamstring during conditioning after throwing batting practice Thursday and seems certain to miss the start of the season.</p>
<p>Carrasco, a right-hander, who turns 34 on Sunday, has has not appeared any any exhibition games this year.</p>
<p>He is in remission from leukemia and had the coronavirus vaccine, causing him to start spring training workouts behind other players. He then stopped throwing for a stretch because of elbow soreness.</p>
<p>Carrasco was traded by Cleveland with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor on Jan. 7 for young infielders Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario, and two minor league prospects: right-hander Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Green.</p>
<p>New York opens April 1 at Washington. Carrasco had been projected to be part of rotation with two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker and David Peterson.</p>
<p>The Mets also are missing reliever Seth Lugo, who had surgery Feb. 16 to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow. He is on track to resume throwing around opening day.</p>
<p>Carrasco missed three months of the 2019 season while fighting leukemia. He pitched through the pandemic, going 3-4 in 12 starts with a 2.91 ERA, his best since a career-best 2.55 ERA when he split 2014 between Cleveland’s rotation and bullpen. He has an 88-73 career record with a 3.73 ERA.</p>
<p>Carrasco is signed at $12 million for each of the next two seasons, part of a deal that includes a $14 million team option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout. The option would become guaranteed if he pitches 170 innings in 2022 and is found to be healthy for the 2023 season.</p>
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