Rivera could shift across the diamond

T.J. Rivera may need his first baseman’s glove on Saturday.

After getting recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday and receiving the start at third base against the Nationals, the Mets rookie could move across the field against lefty Gio Gonzalez, according to manager Terry Collins.

Rivera saw action at first base for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and played the position on a few occasions for the Mets in spring training.

With Lucas Duda (hyper- extended elbow) and Wilmer Flores (knee infection) both placed on the disabled list Friday, the start at first base for the second straight game went to Jay Bruce, who handled the position without incident in the Mets’ 4-3 loss in 11 innings at Citi Field.

A night earlier, Bruce made his fourth major league appearance at the position and first since 2014 with the Reds.

“I thought he did a good job,” Collins said. “The one play I am concerned about a little bit is the pickoff throws because it’s the one play, the fans can kind of [blend in with the ball]. And by the way, those guys throw that ball over there hard.

“You have got guys like [Jeurys] Familia throwing you a 92-mph sinker that you usually don’t get to see very often and you have got to tag a runner at the same time. But I thought [Bruce] handled himself great. I still think he’s got great feet, I think he’s got good hands and the more he’s out there he will get more comfortable.”

➤ Zack Wheeler switched to his cleats around the fourth inning, knowing there was a chance he would be asked to contribute from the bench. The pitcher delivered with a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning, but the Mets couldn’t score after loading the bases.

“Us pitchers, we like to think of ourselves as ath- letes,” Wheeler said. “We feel comfortable if called upon.”

The last Mets pitcher to deliver a pinch hit was Jonathan Niese, who tripled against the Marlins on May 16, 2011.

➤ After getting at least one hit in all 19 games against the Mets last season, Daniel Murphy went 0-for-4. But Murphy was intentionally walked in the 11th inning as part of the Nationals’ goahead rally.