PORT ST. LUCIE — After playing coy the past week, Jerry Manuel gave into the obvious today and named veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez as the Mets’ No. 5 starter. Hernandez, a former World Series MVP with the Marlins, is likely to make his first start April 11 in Miami against his former team.

Hernandez, 34, was brought to camp in a minor-league deal but ended up beating out Freddy Garcia, Jonathon Niese and the injured Tim Redding for the fifth and final spot in the rotation.