Juan Lagares was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Cubs and quickly found himself in the middle of the action — not in a good way.

In his first plate appearance since returning from a partially torn ligament in his left thumb, Lagares pinch-hit for Kelly Johnson (who was pinch-hitting for Bartolo Colon) with one out and runners on the corners in the bottom of the sixth inning against Cubs lefty Travis Wood.

Lagares promptly hit into an inning-ending double play.

Before the game, both he and Terry Collins expressed confidence he could play through the injury.

“Right now, what from what we’ve heard and how he played in rehab, the discomfort doesn’t bother him at all,” Collins said. “His hand has not been an issue at all. We’re looking at it as a sprain that he can wrap it and can go play.”

Instead of using a brace on the field, Lagares intends to tape the thumb. As for surgery, Collins believes he can avoid going under the knife during the season.

“Right now, I don’t think surgery is an issue,” Collins said. “Could he reinjure it? Yeah, he can. I think he’s ready to go.”

Lagares has had injuries impact him while on the field, especially on the defensive end. On Saturday, Lagares insisted that wouldn’t be an issue.

“I want to go out there and do what I’ve been doing,” Lagares said. “I want to give everything I’ve got.”

Curtis Granderson, who last started Tuesday in Washington, is expected to be in the lineup against lefty Jon Lester on Sunday. He would have pinch hit in the eighth if another batter reached.

“The signs are good,” Granderson said of playing Sunday.

“I’ve always erred on the side of if a guy misses a couple of days, give him one more,” Collins said. “But he’s one of the lefties that’s had some success against Lester.”

To make room for Lagares on the roster, Seth Lugo was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Jose Reyes’ bat showed signs of life Saturday after getting just three hits in 23 minor league at-bats since signing with the Mets.

He played third for seven innings and went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Double-A Binghamton’s doubleheader against New Hampshire.

Collins, though, said he’s not overly concerned with results.

“The one thing I do know, he knows himself better than anybody,” Collins said. “When he feels like his swing’s there, I don’t care what the results are, he’s gonna hit.”

Collins blamed some of Reyes’ lack of results on the difficulties of facing minor league pitchers, who aren’t as consistent as their big league counterparts. And he acknowledged that Reyes may be expanding his strike zone because he doesn’t want to walk.

“When Jose says he’s got his swing down, he’ll be here,” Collins said.