WASHINGTON — Another day, another Mets injury.

Veteran shortstop Alex Cora is the latest potential casualty after aggravating the torn ligament in his right thumb that he had been gamely playing on for almost two months.

Cora, who hurt the thumb again Tuesday night while taking a relay throw from right fielder Jeff Francoeur, was not the lineup tonight. Manuel said Cora is day-to-day, and Angel Berroa made his first start as a Met in Cora’s place. “I saw [Cora] wincing for the first time at the plate [Tuesday] and that concerned me a little bit,” Manuel said. “He’s always said with that thumb he could hit, but [Tuesday] night it looked like it was bothering him.”

The Mets began play tonight with nine players on their disabled list, and Gary Sheffield (hamstring) is a possibility to join them as soon as Friday.