Diamondbacks activate Ketel Marte to play vs. Astros, will bring 2B along cautiously

The Arizona Diamondbacks cleared second baseman Ketel Marte for full activity and activated him off the 10-day injured list Friday.

Manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo that Marte will lead off in a designated hitter slot for the series opener against the Houston Astros and that the infielder will be brought along cautiously.

“We’re going to be a little more fluid with him (compared to Christian Walker’s return from an oblique),” Lovullo said Friday before the game. “Walk we felt like was in a much better place and ready for the next steps to make those plans. Ketel is going to go out there, do his best job to help us win a baseball game, we’re going to reevaluate him after the game tonight.

“We feel like he’s in a good enough place to no reinjure anything. We just got to make sure he’s feeling good about putting that load on his lower half and recognizing where he’s at in the box and on the field. We’re going to probably make those decisions piece by piece, day by day, get through tonight, talk to him, see where he’s at tomorrow and see if he’s in the lineup tomorrow.”

To make way for Marte, the D-backs optioned outfielder Jorge Barrosa to Triple-A Reno after a five-game stint with Arizona in which he recorded a hit in seven at-bats. The 23-year-old Barrosa has batted .176 in eight games in the majors.

Ketel Marte returns to D-backs lineup vs. Astros

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— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 6, 2024

In a D-backs win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 10, Marte was fielding a throw down to second base when an errant slide had him struck in the left leg. Marte came out of the game but any major fears were put to rest afterward when Lovullo said it wasn’t any notable injury and that Marte would soon return to the lineup.

Two days later, Marte in his first at-bat appeared to re-injure his left ankle and checked out of the game.

After spending four days out, Marte batted fine from the right side of the plate until his first major swings on the left side the next day forced similar discomfort. The decision was then made for Marte to go on the injured list.

Marte put together one of the best months in baseball before the initial injury, with a 1.208 OPS and a league-leading 12 home runs from July 10-Aug. 9. This was a surge of momentum for Marte’s MVP candidacy, perhaps enough to overtake Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani before the injury ended that campaign’s chances.

On the season, Marte is batting .298 with 30 home runs, 81 RBIs and a .930 OPS. His batting average and OPS rank in the top-10 of MLB, while a 6.0 WAR is tied for eighth still despite the missed time.

Lovullo had said in San Francisco Thursday that he hoped the Diamondbacks would see Marte return in the Houston series.

How to watch, listen to D-backs visiting the Astros

The D-backs and Astros begin at 5:10 p.m. MST on Friday on 98.7 FM and the Arizona Sports app. It airs on television on DBACKS.TV.

Diamondbacks-Astros pitching probables

Friday, 5:10 p.m. — RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-7, 4.32 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.11)

Saturday, 1:10 p.m. — LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1, 5.33 ERA) vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (7-9, 4.24)

Sunday, 4:10 p.m. — RHP Ryne Nelson (10-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (3-5, 4.52)

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