Why is Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte out of the lineup vs. the Dodgers?

Ketel Marte is dealing with lower back and hamstring injuries. The decision for an off day was a combination of Marte and Arizona’s medical staff.

BY TYLER DRAKE

Jun 3, 2026, 2:13 PM Updated: 2:15 pm

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has been given the day off for Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, Marte is dealing with lower back and hamstring injuries and his body is “banged up.” The decision for an off day was a combination of Marte and Arizona’s medical staff, who do not want to risk any further injury.

Gambadoro adds the injuries are nothing alarming.

Marte requesting days off was a big talking point last year after he had reportedly rubbed teammates the wrong way given the timing of the requests.

This year, Marte has appeared in 57 of Arizona’s 60 games played this year. He’s slashing .259/.315/.456 with an OPS of .771. He’s recorded 11 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 36 RBIs and 20 walks to 37 strikeouts.

In place of Marte at second base will be Ildemaro Vargas. He’s batting seventh.

Vargas and the rest of the lineup will have their work cut out for them with Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani on the mound Wednesday night.

Ohtani enters play sporting a 5-2 mark with a 0.82 ERA in nine starts.

Game 3 of the four-game series between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers gets underway at 6:40 p.m. MST. Catch all the action live on Arizona Sports 98.7.

Tyler Drake Cardinals reporter and ArizonaSports.com editor

Born and raised in Kelseyville, California, I spent most of my summers growing up in Arizona. There were a lot of trips to Globe and the East Valley. Once out of high school, I attended the University of Arizona with a major in natural resources… Read more

Comments

Joe Oscar 2 months ago

Laughable. Perdomo last night, Marte tonight, how about Carroll tomorrow? It's the world champs, how can you not want to be in the lineup? It's embarrassing. The excuse for pitchers just throwing 90 95 pitches a game is that they throw harder now, more spin action, more stress on the arm. OK. Have second baseman's and short stops throwing harder also? Running faster? Swinging harder?

The Clydesdale 2 months ago

Ketel wants to be treated like a star. Stars lift their team up. Ask yourself if his teammates feel lifted up when their best player opts for a night off when the best team and the best pitcher in the league are the opponents. And how do fans feels when they get to the ballpark and see that Ketel is not in the lineup...when they've shelled out money for tickets at a time when gas and groceries are through the roof? Not cool.

Grumpy Old Man 2 months ago

IF TL was the coach of the 1970 NY Knicks, he would not have started Willis Reed for Game 7 and gave the emotional advantage to the Knicks.

Why is Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte out of the lineup vs. the Dodgers?

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