PORT ST. LUCIE — Forget seeing one-third of the Mets’ starting lineup when the season’s first pitch is thrown at Citi Field on Monday.
Jose Reyes is headed to the disabled list and Daniel Murphy will miss the next 2-6 weeks after an MRI exam yesterday revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Reyes and Murphy will join Carlos Beltran, who is recovering from arthroscopic right knee surgery, on the shelf.
Reyes played in a minor-league exhibition game yesterday, going 1-for-5 for the second straight day, but the Mets want to play it safe with their shortstop and ensure he is in baseball shape after he missed nearly three weeks of camp because of an overactive thyroid.
The team will make Reyes’ DL stint retroactive to March 26, and because he did not appear in Grapefruit League action, can activate him for the season’s fifth game, on April 10 against the Nationals.
The Mets last night refused to confirm that Reyes is headed to the DL, but a decision already has been reached, according to a major league source.
Reyes will remain behind when the team breaks camp tonight for two exhibition games on Florida’s west coast. The goal is to get Reyes additional at-bats in minor-league exhibition games and also ensure his legs are built up enough. Reyes, who missed most of last season with right hamstring problems, returned to camp eight days ago after spending nearly three weeks inactive as doctors waited for his thyroid levels to drop.
Murphy’s only competition over the next several weeks might be trying to rejoin the Mets before Beltran.
All the Mets know for certain is they will need another starting first baseman until Murphy’s knee recovers.
Mike Jacobs is the front-runner to take the job, according to general manager Omar Minaya — adding that rookie slugger Ike Davis is not a candidate.
Murphy, who was batting .196 this spring with two homers and eight RBIs, was hurt during a rundown between third base and home plate in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Cardinals and still had a noticeable limp when he reported to the Mets’ clubhouse yesterday. The team sent him for tests that revealed a Grade 1 sprain, the least serious among the three levels.
“It is bad timing, but any time you get hurt it is going to be unfortunate,” Murphy said. “I’ve been here, coming up on two months, and I started to feel good at the plate. I wanted to break [camp] with the club.”
Minaya said that Jacobs likely would take the first-base job, but said Chris Carter is still under consideration. The team also has veteran Fernando Tatis as a backup. Jacobs, who hit 32 home runs for the Marlins in 2008, has the best resume and biggest upside among the bunch.
“[Jacobs] has played in the major leagues,” Minaya said. “He knows how to play the position.”
Until yesterday, Jacobs was battling with Carter and veteran Frank Catalanotto for the final spot on the Mets’ bench. Jacobs — despite a .194 average this spring with two homers and four RBIs — is now virtually a lock for the roster and the Mets probably will decide between Carter and Catalanotto for the final spot.
“Baseball is crazy,” Jacobs said. “[But] it is baseball, and it is another opportunity. Hopefully, it is an opportunity for me. Obviously, I’ll be ready to step in there.”
mpuma@nypost.com