Alderson mum on Collins, talks need to improve ‘D’

Sandy Alderson wouldn’t address his or Terry Collins’ future Friday, but if Alderson stays on as the Mets’ general manager next season — as expected — there figures to be a change in the way he puts the roster together.

Alderson acknowledged that since the pitching staff hasn’t overpowered batters at the rate the organization had hoped, they will have to pay more attention to defense — something the Mets frequently have overlooked in exchange for offensive skills.

“When your pitchers aren’t striking everybody out, as we’ve had in the past, the defense becomes a little more important,’’ Alderson said when asked about what he has learned about this season’s failure during a press conference at Citi Field.

“And I think probably recognition after this year that if we’re going to have pitching that puts the ball in play a little more, then the defense is going to be more of a priority,” Alderson said. “Fortunately, we have seen that with [Amed] Rosario, we’ve seen it with [Juan] Lagares, we’ve seen with some improved defense just over the last six weeks or so. So I’m hopeful that the defense will be improved. But it’s always a balance across the board.”

The equation didn’t work this season, which could lead to Terry Collins spending his final days at the Mets’ manager.

“We’ve had very few of those conversations and as I’ve said before, that situation is and will be resolved very shortly after the end of the season,’’ Alderson said. “Beyond that, we’re just not getting into a public conversation about it.”

Jeurys Familia picked up his first save since returning from surgery to remove a blood clot in May in the Mets’ 7-6 win over the Nationals on Friday at Citi Field.

The right-hander got the final out of the game by striking out Victor Robles with runners on the corners.

Familia said it was significant to get the save, but added through an interpreter, “Even those bad games were milestones for me, because meant I was back here pitching.”

The Mets also got a pair of homers from Travis d’Arnaud, including a three-run shot that tied the score in the fifth inning against a Washington team that played none of its regulars after getting in late Thursday night and being close to locked in for the second-best record in the National League.

Nori Aoki’s ground rule double in the sixth scored Juan Lagares and put the Mets up for good.

AJ Ramos, roughed up in two of his previous three outings, was shaky again and was pulled with runners on the corners with one out in the ninth. Josh Smoker got the second out before Familia came on to earn his first save since May 5.

Rosario was back in the lineup Friday after missing three straight games with a stomach ailment and went 1-for-4.