OAKLAND, Calif. — Francisco Alvarez still isn’t hitting, but he received positive reviews from his manager Saturday for his handling of the Mets’ pitchers.

So much so that Buck Showalter is considering giving the rookie a second straight start behind the plate for the series finale Sunday against the Athletics.

Bolstering Alvarez’s case is his familiarity with Jose Butto, who will pitch in Max Scherzer’s spot.

Scherzer has been bumped to Wednesday because of lingering back discomfort.

“I thought [Alvarez] did real well behind the plate with a lot of different pitchers today,” Showalter said following the Mets’ 3-2 victory on Saturday.

Alvarez fielded a bunt by Esteury Ruiz in the ninth inning and threw to first base for the first out.

He also grabbed Tony Kemp’s squib in front of the plate and threw to first for the second out.

At the plate, Alvarez went hitless in three at-bats and is 1-for-11 (.091) since arriving from Triple-A Syracuse following Omar Narvaez’s placement on the injured list with a left calf strain.

“He’s long,” Showalter said. “I hope they think they found a way to pitch him. If he gets it going they won’t be pitching him like they are pitching him now.”

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The Mets placed Stephen Nogosek on the injured list with a bone bruise on the right elbow a day after he was struck by a line drive and forced to leave the game.

Meanwhile, Dennis Santana was designated for assignment.

Jimmy Yacabonis was selected from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Mets another reliever, and Butto took the other roster spot.

Showalter said the plan was to let Nogosek potentially pitch the final 4 ¹/₃ innings Friday night, but the right-hander departed with the injury after getting only three outs.

Santana was used for the ensuing 2 ¹/₃ innings.

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Justin Verlander threw a side session in Port St. Lucie, Fla., without any issues, according to Showalter.

The right-hander was throwing off a mound for the first time since beginning the season on the injured list with a strained teres major muscle near his armpit.

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The progression calls for Verlander to throw another bullpen session and live batting practice before he would be penciled in for a minor league rehab start.

The right-hander has said he expects to pitch his first game for the Mets at some point this month.

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Showalter deflected questions about third baseman Brett Baty, who is off to a torrid start for Syracuse as Eduardo Escobar, who didn’t play Saturday, continues to struggle.

Baty hit a grand slam on Friday for his fifth homer in nine games to begin the season.

“That is what [Baty] is supposed to do — all of them are,” Showalter said. “That is a good team down there. I would challenge someone to find a more prospect-laden Triple-A club than ours.”