Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte is NLCS MVP, extends playoff hit streak to record 16 games

An 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series isn’t the best stat line.

But 1-for-4 with a double, especially when it extends a hitting streak, is a completely different story.

And that’s exactly what Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte did in the seventh inning against Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.

With that hit in the 4-2 win that sent the D-backs to the World Series, Marte extended his hitting streak to 16 games to start his postseason career. It’s the longest to start a postseason career.

Ketel Marte has a 16-game hitting streak, tied for the 4th-longest in postseason history, behind only:

2003-04 Manny Ramírez: 17
1998-99 Derek Jeter: 17
1956-58 Hank Bauer: 17

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 25, 2023

At 16 games, he’s tied for fourth-longest in playoff history, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. He joins former Toronto Blue Jay Pat Borders and current Houston Astro Michael Brantley. However, neither of those hitting streaks were to start a playoff career.

Marte was 12-for-31 and batting .387 against the Phillies in the seven game series.

In the three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series, Marte was 5-for-14 batting .357 with a double, a home run and a stolen base.

In the National League Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the second baseman was a mere humble 2-for-8 batting .250 with a walk, homer and three RBIs.

The newly turned 30-year-old Marte had his best year since 2019 this season, batting .276 with 25 homers.