The Arizona Diamondbacks have a mystery on their hands, and it involves their best hitter.
Ketel Marte returned to Arizona on Tuesday for an MRI on his knee, after leaving the team a day earlier under circumstances the club has not fully explained. Marte had left with knee soreness a few days earlier when Arizona was in Atlanta, but the Monday departure was abrupt enough that the Diamondbacks had to place him on the restricted list.
The Baseball Part
Marte was already dealing with knee soreness. He has been playing through it for weeks. The MRI is going to tell Arizona whether the issue is structural or manageable, and everything about the rest of the Diamondbacks’ season pivots on the results.
Marte is an MVP candidate every year he is healthy. He is the offensive engine of the Arizona lineup and one of the best switch-hitting second basemen in the sport. Losing him for any real length of time would sink the Diamondbacks’ playoff hopes.
The Personal Part
The team’s decision to place Marte on the restricted list is significant. Restricted list moves typically happen when there is a non-baseball reason for a player being unavailable. The Diamondbacks have not disclosed what those reasons are, and out of respect for Marte and his family, most reporters have not pushed hard for details.
Reading between the lines, this appears to be something bigger than a knee. When Arizona gets more clarity, they will share what they can.
What Arizona Is Doing in the Meantime
The lineup shifts without Marte. Corbin Carroll and Ketel’s usual counterparts have to carry more of the offense, and the pitching staff has to keep games close in a way it did not have to when Marte was hitting behind them.
The Diamondbacks are in the wild-card mix. Every game matters. Losing your best hitter for an unclear timeline in the middle of August is the kind of hit a fringe playoff team cannot easily absorb.
The Bigger Injury Picture Across MLB
Tuesday was rough across the league. Guardians outfielder Jo Adell was removed with knee pain after a monster day at the plate. Willy Adames was out with a back issue. Taylor Ward was out with a quad. Jacob Wilson was out with a shoulder. Nolan Arenado was out with an abdomen issue.
August is when the wear and tear of a 162-game season starts showing up. Every playoff-caliber team is trying to hold guys together for six more weeks.
The Yankees Are Getting Healthy At Least
Cody Bellinger is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton on Tuesday and could return to the Yankees shortly. That is a real boost for a New York team trying to hold off the Rays in the AL East.
What to Watch for Arizona
The MRI results are the story of the week for the Diamondbacks. If Marte gets cleared and rejoins the team within a few days, Arizona is back in the wild-card race. If the MRI reveals something serious, or if the personal issues that appear to be behind the restricted list move keep him away longer, the season starts to slip away.
Marte has been through injuries and comebacks before. Fans and teammates are pulling for him on both fronts. The Diamondbacks will share more when they have more to share, and for now the whole league is watching.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
