NEW YORK — Mets catcher Brian Schneider remained hospitalized today with an infected left thumb and is likely to miss the weekend series against the Atlanta Braves.

Manager Willie Randolph termed it a staph infection, although team spokesman Jay Horwitz said the team was calling it an infection without specifying. Schneider was hospitalized Thursday and was being given antibiotics intravenously, and Randolph said Friday that doctors were trying to reduce swelling.

"I don't know what to anticipate on this," Randolph said. "This is something very new."

Schneider is batting .309 with no extra-base hits and eight RBIs in his first season with the Mets. Raul Casanova again started in his place Friday night.

First baseman Carlos Delgado, in a 3-for-29 slide and batting just .198, was given a night off from the starting lineup.

"Maybe just needs a break," Randolph said. "When you're struggling sometimes, maybe a nice little mental break might be good for you. He's fine."