The New York Mets placed Justin Verlander on the injured list with a strained back muscle on opening day, sidelining the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner before his first appearance with the team. The Mets announced that Verlander has a low-grade teres major strain a few hours before beginning the season against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. Verlander will continue throwing at moderate intensity and will undergo more scans in a week. The club said it would have an update on the three-time Cy Young Award winner after the additional testing. Verlander, 40, signed an $86.67 million, two-year deal with the Mets during the offseason and pitched well during spring training.