San Francisco, CA (My Sportsbook) - The New York Mets placed catcher Mike Piazza on the 15-day disabled list following their 7-5 loss in San Francisco Friday night. The All-Star backstop sustained a groin injury in the top of the first inning while trying to evade an inside pitch from Jason Schmidt.

After jumping out of the way of the pitch, Piazza was helped from the field by a pair of Mets trainers. He will undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury.

"It was bad," manager Art Howe said. "It's a tear of the groin but we don't know how severe. Two weeks is very optimistic. That's a starting point."

The injury comes less than two weeks after Piazza missed a game because he had a benign mole removed from his abdomen. The procedure, which required seven stitches, kept the all-star catcher out of last Tuesday's game against Los Angeles.

"Groins can take awhile, that's for sure," Howe added. "Especially when you do as much damage as he did. I saw John Jaha tear a groin the same way and he was out awhile. That's why we can't afford to have him [Piazza] out there every day taking grounders at first base. He plays such a demanding position."

Piazza is batting .336 with seven home runs and 15 RBI for the Mets, who are 17-25, good for last place in the National League East. Piazza has missed 10 of those games.

The Mets recalled catcher Jason Phillips from Norfolk to take Piazza's spot on the roster.