NEW YORK -- Terry Collins said he wasn't surprised when he found out center fielder Juan Lagares had broken his left thumb during Thursday night's 8-3 loss to the division-leading Nationals.

After all, it was only a matter of time before the injury bug took out its latest victim in the Mets clubhouse.

Lagares fractured his IP joint, located at the top half of your thumb, after attempting to make a diving catch in the fifth inning.

Collins and a trainer checked in on Lagares, but the center fielder remained in the game to finish out the frame.

When it was Lagares' turn to bat in the bottom half of the inning, he wasn't able.

"He couldn't hold a bat," Collins said of Lagares, who spent a portion of last season on the DL with a sprained thumb.

And at this rate, Collins might run out of roster players as injury news took center stage before, during and after the series opener against the Nationals.

Around five hours prior to Lagares' injury, General Manager Sandy Alderson announced that second baseman Neil Walker (hamstring) and pitcher Matt Harvey (right shoulder) were headed to the 10-day disabled list.

And it appears as if Lagares join them.

"Oh, god yeah," Collins said when asked if Lagares will head to the disabled list, where it seems half the roster resides.

Based on Collins' pregame comments, though, it seems Michael Conforto (back) will be able to start in the outfield on Friday.

"He's coming along fine," Collins said before the game. "We just decided not to push it."

Mark Fischer may be reached at mfischer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @nhlfisch21. Find NJ.com on Facebook.