WASHINGTON -- Minnesota Twins right-hander Phil Hughes will begin the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique.
Manager Paul Molitor said Hughes, 31, is "still in the mix" to pitch April 11, the first time Minnesota will need a fifth starter.
Hughes had been on track to be at the end of Minnesota's rotation before hurting himself last week.
With Hughes to be put on the DL by opening day, winter meeting draft pick Tyler Kinley and Gabriel Moya both are expected to be part of the bullpen for the initial 25-man roster.
Last season, Hughes went 4-3 with a 5.87 ERA in 14 appearances, including nine starts, before his season ended in July because of surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, an issue involving the compression of nerves or blood vessels.
Minnesota opens at Baltimore on Thursday.
Meanwhile, outfielder Ryan LaMarre beat out Zack Granite for a reserve spot on the opening day 25-man roster.
The Twins will select the contract of LaMarre to complete their roster, Molitor said after Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition victory over the Washington Nationals.
Granite has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester.
LaMarre, a 29-year-old non-roster invitee to camp, batted .475 (19-for-40) in spring training. He's 2-for-37, an .054 average, in the majors for his career.
"I feel like I'm a completely different player after this offseason than I've ever been before," LaMarre said. "You try not to think about it, but anytime you see those numbers, it's not great."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
