Mets' Jose Reyes (oblique) exits game

NEW YORK -- A strained oblique forced Mets shortstop Jose Reyes to leave Thursday night's game versus the Florida Marlins in the second inning. The Mets described the injury as "mild," but said Reyes will not play again until he has no pain in the oblique.

"I hope it will not be that long," Reyes said after the Mets' 11-4 loss to the Marlins.

After missing most of last season with hamstring problems and then being forced to sit out the majority of spring training because of a thyroid condition, Reyes has been healthy for most of the 2010 season. Thursday night was the 112th game that Reyes has played this season. When he plays No. 113 is an open question right now.

"As of right now, we see this as a day-to-day thing," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.

Reyes was not scheduled to have any tests on Thursday night. Both he and Manuel said they will see how he feels when he wakes up Friday morning before figuring out the next step. Reyes had struggled with the oblique injury recently, but he was able to play through it.

Reyes said he felt the strain during batting practice and then he was removed following a single in the second. Reyes did not want to leave the game.

"It is kind of frustrating," Reyes said.

Last year, Reyes played just 36 games. In an interview prior to Thursday's loss, Reyes said one of his main goals was to finish the season injury-free. He also said that he was unsatisfied with his .286 average, eight homers, 44 RBIs, 28 stolen bases and 73 runs scored. He had walked only 25 times entering Thursday.

"The numbers should be better," Reyes said.

Reyes, 27, has a team option for next season. He said he hopes to return to the Mets, but he left the door open a crack.

"I want to be here," Reyes said. "This is the team that gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues. This is the only team that I've played in the big leagues with my entire career so far. I don't want to go anywhere. At the same time, like I've said before, this is a business."

Andrew Marchand covers baseball for ESPNNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.

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