The Mets can play Bo Bichette at SS to keep Ronnie Mauricio in the IL

New York Mets infielder Ronnie Mauricio He broke his left thumb on Saturday Los Angeles AngelsForced to consider using injury-plagued clubs Bo Bichette at shortstop

Mauricio, who is filling in at shortstop for the injured All-Star Francisco LindorSuffered the injury on a head first slide in Saturday’s 4-3 seventh inning.

“It’s obviously tough,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, according to MLB.com. “You lose your everyday shortstop and the guy who was getting an everyday opportunity here is now hurt. Somebody else is going to get an opportunity.”

That opportunity may initially go to Bichette, who replaced Mauricio for the final four innings of Saturday’s game.

Initially with a shortstop during his seven years Toronto Blue JaysBichette moved to third base this season after signing with the Mets, who already had a two-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop in Lindor.

But with both Lindor and Mauricio sidelined, Mendoza acknowledged that Bichette is a candidate to move back to shortstop.

“I’m pretty sure Bo will be in the conversation,” said Mendoza, who added that the Mets have not yet decided which player to promote from the minors to replace Mauricio on the roster.

The last-place Mets will officially place Mauricio on the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Angels. Bichette played in 32 games — 30 at third base — in his first season with the Mets, committing just two errors while posting a .970 fielding percentage at the hot corner.

“Whatever the team needs,” Bichette told reporters, when asked about possibly moving back to shortstop.

Mauricio, 25, is batting .209 (6 for 29) with one home run in nine games this season. The former top prospect will join a growing list of Mets players in IL, including Lindor, Lewis Robert Jr., Jorge PolancoAnd Kodai Senga.

Lindor has been sidelined since April 22 and will miss at least two more weeks with a left calf strain.

The Mets (11-22) enter Sunday with the worst record in Major League Baseball, 12.5 games out of first place. Atlanta Braves (24-10) in the NL East.