Los Angeles Angels reliever Huston Street will not throw for three to four weeks after suffering a strained lat muscle, the team announced Saturday.
Street was diagnosed with a "Grade-1 plus" strain, Angels general manager Billy Eppler told reporters Saturday. The veteran right-hander is considered unlikely to be ready for Opening Day on April 3.
Street, who is competing for the Angels' closing job, suffered the injury in Friday's spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers and underwent an MRI. Doctors revealed the diagnosis to the team on Saturday.
"I put in a lot of really hard work this offseason," Street said, according to the Orange County Register. "It's obviously frustrating because you feel like maybe you deserve better because you did put in so much work, but everything happens for a reason."
Street, 33, went 3-2 with a career-worst 6.45 ERA and nine saves during an injury-plagued 2016 season with the Angels. The two-time All-Star is battling Andrew Bailey and Cam Bedrosian for Los Angeles' closer job.
"I'm disappointed," Eppler said. "I know he is as well, but he's got his mind in the right spot. He'll endure this, and he'll make it through."
