PHOENIX -- Mike Piazza won't catch for the New York Mets for three to five days because of a mild left knee sprain.

	Piazza

An MRI exam on Sunday confirmed the extent of the injury, Mets manager Bobby Valentine said.

Piazza was injured while crossing first base on a groundout in the fourth inning of New York's 6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

Valentine said Piazza might be able to pinch hit as early as Monday night's series opener at Houston.

"It's not serious," Piazza said at the ballpark after the MRI. "It's day-to-day. It's one of those things that obviously we can deal with."

Piazza said he didn't think he'll be out more than three days.

"It feels a lot better," he said. "I'll probably ice it the rest of the day, treat it. Obviously I have a night off tonight, and tomorrow it should be a lot better, hopefully in the next 24 hours."

Piazza was 3-for-8 with three RBI as New York won the first two games of its three-game series in Arizona.

He said he thought the injury occurred when he hit the bag.

"I think I kind of stretched it and kind of hit the bag a little -- kind of overstrode it a little bit and hit the back of the bag and just didn't hit it as flush, as cleanly as you want to," Piazza said.

Valentine said it's possible the Mets will make a roster move to compensate for Piazza's absence.

"I don't know if it requires it," Valentine said Sunday.

Piazza is sixth in the National League in batting at .342. He also leads the Mets with 29 home runs and 88 RBI.

Todd Pratt took Piazza's place in Sunday's lineup against Arizona.