Ronny Mauricio fractures left thumb and is headed to the IL

ANAHEIM, Calif.— The Mets need a replacement for their replacement at shortstop.

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.Ronny Mauricio is headed to the injured list, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, after he fractured his left thumb Saturday while diving into first base in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Angels in 10 innings.Mauricio hit a grounder to first base and beat Nolan Schaunuel to the bag with a dive into the base — a play that was originally ruled an out but was overturned on replay — and fractured his thumb.He was removed after the half inning concluded.Mauricio became the starter at shortstop just over a week ago when Francisco Lindor was placed on the IL with a left calf strain expected to sideline him for months.Bo Bichette moved from third base to shortstop for the final four innings on Saturday and is a candidate to play the position in Mauricio’s absence.Bichette was a shortstop before switching to third base this season.“I have got to wait and see who the player is coming up [from Triple-A Syracuse],” Mendoza said.

“I am pretty sure Bo is going to be in the conversation.”...