Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte removed vs. Giants in ‘preventative’ measure

SAN FRANCISCO — The Arizona Diamondbacks removed star second baseman Ketel Marte in the seventh inning of an 8-4 ballgame at the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, as it was later revealed he was dealing with lower-body stiffness.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Marte fought to play in the day game after a night game for the first time since he came off the injured list (hamstring), especially with a series win on the line.

After the sixth inning, however, the second baseman said it would be best to come out. Marte said everything was tight, while Lovullo highlighted his hips.

Why did Ketel Marte come out of Wednesday's win over the Giants? pic.twitter.com/0yhi494wHA

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“I feel good. Just a little bit stiff. That always happens here in San Francisco,” Marte said via Spanish interpreter. “Up by four, better to have a preventive measure.”

“He said he was starting to get really stiff,” Lovullo said. “Before I removed him, I went down there and I said, ‘What do you got?’ He says, ‘I need to come out of this game.’ I want to respect the athlete who knows his body.”

Marte had already hit two home runs, and the way D-backs games have trended lately, this one was far from over.

Jordan Lawlar entered for Marte at second base, and the D-backs held on with their teeth for an 8-7 win.

What does the early game exit mean for Ketel Marte moving forward?

Lovullo and Marte both said he will be back in the lineup on Friday after the team’s off day on Thursday.

Marte is in a return-to-play progression, meaning he will get planned days off. He returned from the injured list back on May 2, but he has a history with hamstring injuries.

Lovullo said when Marte’s hips get tight, which impacts his back and his hamstrings and opens him up for potential injury.

“He works extremely hard every single day with flexibility, his movements, weight training,” Lovullo said. “The hip flexors get tight and everything kind of changes, his posture changes and it puts a little bit of pressure on the backside of his body. … I think it’s just the buildup and just getting innings logged and he’s gonna start to play every day. When that happens, I’m not sure, but we gotta be careful.”

“ I’m ready to play every day, but I think having one day off a week is gonna do well for my body,” Marte added.

The Diamondbacks start a three-game series on Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field.

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