Diamondbacks to activate Ketel Marte to start as DH vs. Phillies

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks will reinstate second baseman Ketel Marte on Monday, and he will start as the designated hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Marte has not played since he did not show up to Fenway Park in Boston two weeks ago on Aug. 17, having since spent time on the restricted list and the IL for knee inflammation. He met with manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen on Aug. 20, and from there the plan became clear that he would rehab and get back by the Phillies series.

Marte will hit cleanup in his first game back. Here’s the rest of the Diamondbacks lineup Monday against the Phillies:

1. SS Geraldo Perdomo
2. RF Corbin Carroll
3. C Gabriel Moreno
4. DH Ketel Marte
5. LF Lars Nootbaar
6. 3B Nolan Arenado
7. 1B Tim Tawa
8. 2B Ildemaro Vargas
9. CF Ryan Waldschmidt

Rosters will expand by two spots on Tuesday, the start of September.

Marte met with reporters on Monday prior to the start of Arizona series against Philadelphia, and Lovullo watched him address the media from the back of the room.

The plan for Marte on Monday also included his address to the clubhouse after two weeks of uncertainty about why he left his teammates and coaches hanging in Boston and how come he has not returned in the meantime.

Marte has a history of stepping away, and teammates have expressed varying levels of frustration.

How he refocuses and contributes to this lineup now becomes a pertinent storyline for the rest of this season, as the Diamondbacks are fighting for a playoff spot. Arizona entered Monday a half-game ahead of the San Diego Padres for the third National League Wild Card spot.

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