LOS ANGELES – The Mets will be without their starting catcher for a stretch after Francisco Alvarez was placed on the injured list Saturday with what the team called a left thumb sprain.

Alvarez left Friday night’s 9-4 victory over the Dodgers in the second inning in visible discomfort after stumbling as he rounded first base.

Alvarez used his hand, with weight on his thumb, to brace himself and kept running to second.

He was scheduled to receive an MRI exam after the game.

The Mets selected Tomas Nido from Triple-A Syracuse to provide them with catching depth behind Omar Narvaez.

Alvarez in 16 games this season has a .236/.288/.364 slash line with one homer and eight RBIs.