Paul Blackburn may be able to make next Mets start after hand injury

SAN DIEGO — Paul Blackburn’s hand was sore, but all things considered the Mets right-hander felt good about his situation on Saturday.

A CT scan performed on the hand was negative, confirming the team’s initial diagnosis of a contusion after Blackburn was struck by a line drive a night earlier and forced to leave his start against the Padres in the third inning.

Blackburn said it’s possible he will take his next scheduled turn in the rotation, but that is contingent on how he feels after throwing on Sunday.

“We’re in a situation where we need arms,” Blackburn said before the Mets topped the Padres, 7-1, Saturday at Petco Park.

Among the possibilities the Mets may discuss if Blackburn needs a few extra days is reconfiguring the rotation following Monday’s day off.

As it stands, Blackburn’s next turn is scheduled for Thursday in Arizona.

Huascar Brazoban, who was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse a day earlier, had remained with the team and would have been recalled Saturday if Blackburn was placed on the injured list.

If it’s determined Blackburn can’t pitch — either in his next turn or later in the road trip — the Mets would likely turn to Tylor Megill in that spot. Megill has struggled in two stints with the Mets this season, pitching to a 5.17 ERA in 10 appearances for the team.

The Mets rotation depth is thin with Kodai Senga (calf) and Christian Scott (elbow) on the injured list.

“The good thing is we got good news [on Blackburn], but we have got to wait until Sunday to see if he’s going to be able to pick up a baseball and go out there and play catch,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We’ll have a better idea.”

Blackburn was struck by a 100-mph line drive off David Peralta’s bat and used his arm to shield his head on the play.

“I am just glad he didn’t get hit in the head or in the face, because that was pretty scary,” Mendoza said. “And then it was 100 [mph], and watching him [Friday] night, he was pretty swollen. We just needed to wait, and it’s good news, so definitely we dodged a bullet.”

Blackburn allowed five earned runs on 10 hits over 2 ¹/₃ innings. It was his second rough start in his last three. The Mets acquired the right-hander at the trade deadline from Oakland.