Mets’ Brandon Nimmo gets brief scare after fouling ball off left knee

A rough injury day nearly got worse for the Mets on Saturday when Brandon Nimmo fouled a ball off his left knee in the bottom of the fourth.

Nimmo was in significant pain and hobbled for several minutes before he finished the at-bat.

The center fielder was also able to complete the 4-0 loss to Atlanta without further issue, and he said he was confident afterward there would be no lingering issues heading into Sunday.

Nimmo said it hit off the top of the knee-cap area of his back knee, which usually doesn’t get hit by foul balls. It briefly gave him a “dead leg.”

“It locked up on me and I needed a few minutes,’’ Nimmo said. “I’ve got some swelling, but it was fine. I was able to move around.”

That was good news for Carlos Mendoza.

“At one point, I thought he would have to come out,’’ the manager said. “It was scary when it first happened. I’m glad it’s nothing serious.”

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Luis Severino has gone from a potential trade deadline casualty with the Mets to someone who is now even more integral to a possible run to the playoffs, especially with the loss of Kodai Senga, likely for the rest of the regular season, with a strained left calf.

Severino, on a one-year deal after a terrible last season with the Yankees, said he hasn’t spoken to the Mets about staying in Queens beyond this season.

“We haven’t had that conversation yet,’’ Severino said Saturday. “I’d be willing to talk about anything. Right now, I’m just focused on the season and we’re having a great season. Anything can happen at the end of the year.”

And with the arrival of Ryne Stanek, the Mets made clear they would be buyers at the trade deadline — though Senga’s absence could complicate matters before Tuesday.

“Hopefully we add some more,’’ Severino said. “Everybody needs pitching. We just got Senga back and now we lost him. Stanek is here now, so we could bring in more guys.”

It’s a long way from where the Mets were in early June, when a potential playoff run seemed unrealistic and selling at the deadline a potential reality.

“It feels great to be in a position to compete,’’ Francisco Lindor said.

Asked if he believed there was more to do before Tuesday, the shortstop said, “I’m not sure. We’re obviously playing the game very well right now and continue to climb. We’ll see where it takes us.”

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Harrison Bader didn’t play again Saturday after rolling his right ankle trying to steal third against the Yankees Tuesday.

Bader took full batting practice Friday and went through “all his pregame activities” prior to Saturday’s game against Atlanta.

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Third base was a huge void for the Mets earlier this season — as well as most of last year.

They got just 14 homers from the spot in 2023 and Mark Vientos hit his 14th of the season on Friday.

He’s got the second-best slugging percentage among third basemen with at least 220 plate appearances, trailing only Boston’s Rafael Devers.

Vientos didn’t get recalled from Triple-A Syracuse for good until May 15, when he replaced the slumping Brett Baty, who also struggled at third for much of last year.

Baty remains at Syracuse, while Vientos has helped key the Mets’ turnaround.