Fans across social media were outraged when they noticed Ketel Marte was absent from the Diamondbacks’ lineup on Monday in their crucial series opener against the Giants. With just six games remaining in the regular season and a slim 1.5-game lead over the Braves for the final Wild Card spot, every win was essential for Arizona.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Heading into Monday’s game, Marte had been on a power surge, hitting home runs in three consecutive games. The Diamondbacks were desperate for momentum after surrendering their largest lead in franchise history the day before. Instead of Marte, it was Kevin Newman who got the start at second base. Newman struggled at the plate, going 0-for-3 with a lineout, strikeout, and groundout. The Diamondbacks ultimately fell to the Giants, 6-3.
Following the loss, Marte addressed his absence in a postgame interview, implying that the decision to sit out was his own, not manager Torey Lovullo’s. “I’m not somebody who asks for a lot of days off, but when I do, it’s because I really need it,” Marte said, a statement that may raise some concerns.
Marte has been dealing with a lingering high ankle sprain since August, and although he spent 10 days on the injured list, he has yet to fully recover. Despite the setback, Marte returned to the lineup for Tuesday’s matchup against the Giants and is expected to play in every remaining game as the Diamondbacks fight to secure a playoff spot
