After a brief stint on the injured list due to a wrist injury, Ketel Marte is back in action for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The star second baseman was reinstated just in time for a crucial three-game series against the Houston Astros this weekend.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Before landing on the IL on August 18th, Marte was in the midst of one of the hottest stretches of his season. Over a span of 14 games, he blasted 10 home runs, bringing his season total to 30. If not for Shohei Ohtani’s historic 40-40 season, Marte would be making a strong case for National League MVP consideration.
Despite Marte’s absence, the Diamondbacks managed to hold their own, but the New York Mets have closed the gap in the Wild Card race. Riding a seven-game winning streak, the Mets now trail Arizona by just 2.5 games, making every game down the stretch critical for the D-backs.
In a corresponding roster move, Arizona optioned outfielder Jorge Barrosa back to Triple-A Reno. Barrosa, who was called up for his second stint in the majors on September 1st, appeared in five games, going 1-for-7 at the plate while primarily playing center field.
As the Diamondbacks prepare for their series in Houston, they’ll be looking to rebound from Thursday’s loss to the Giants. Facing the Astros, who were recently swept by the Reds, Arizona will send Brandon Pfaadt to the mound for Game 1. Though Pfaadt has yet to face the Astros in his young career, the Diamondbacks have won 10 of his last 12 starts dating back to June 25th.
