In a blow to their playoff aspirations, the Arizona Diamondbacks have placed star second baseman Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list following a persistent sprained left ankle. Marte initially sustained the injury on August 10th during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, when Garrett Stubbs collided with him during a tag play at second base.
Since that incident, Marte has struggled with the injury, tweaking the ankle twice more. The Diamondbacks have determined that placing him on the injured list is the best course of action for his recovery. In response, the team has recalled outfielder and first baseman Pavin Smith from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
Marte's Impact This Season
Ketel Marte, now in his age-30 season, has been a cornerstone of the Diamondbacks' lineup. Over the course of 116 games, Marte has delivered an impressive .298 batting average, paired with a .370 on-base percentage and a .560 slugging percentage. His performance has resulted in a remarkable 157 OPS+.
In addition to his consistency at the plate, Marte has showcased his power, smacking 30 home runs this season. His absence from the lineup will undoubtedly be felt as the Diamondbacks vie for a postseason berth.
Diamondbacks' Playoff Position
At present, the Diamondbacks are holding onto the second National League wild-card spot with a 69-56 record. They trail the San Diego Padres, who possess the top wild-card position, by a narrow margin of one game, and are four games behind the first-place Dodgers in the fiercely contested NL West. Marte's sidelining introduces an element of uncertainty during this critical stretch of the season.
Kevin Newman Steps In
To fill the void left by Marte, Kevin Newman is expected to take over as the Diamondbacks' primary second baseman. Newman's performance will be crucial as the team navigates the remainder of the regular season without one of their key contributors.
The recall of Pavin Smith also indicates that the Diamondbacks are looking for flexibility and perhaps a spark in their lineup. Smith's versatility as both an outfielder and first baseman can potentially provide manager Torey Lovullo with more options to keep the team competitive.
Moving Forward
The Diamondbacks' ability to maintain their wild-card spot in Ketel Marte's absence will be a storyline closely followed by fans and analysts alike. With the postseason race heating up, every game counts, and the contributions from both Kevin Newman and Pavin Smith will be pivotal in the team's quest to extend their season into October.
As the Diamondbacks brace for the challenges ahead, they will rely on their depth and resilience to weather this storm, hoping for a swift recovery for Marte and a strong finish to the regular season.