Ketel

Marte

Marte was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday with lower back tightness, but he’s right back in there after one day. We’ll see if he can make it through this game without a flareup before considering him fully healthy, but this is obviously a great sign.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo offered an encouraging postgame update after Marte was a late scratch from Tuesday’s contest against the Orioles, telling reporters he’s optimistic he’ll be ready for Wednesday’s series finale. It would be Ildemaro Vargas making another start in his place if he needs additional time off.

Marte was scratched from Arizona’s lineup just minutes prior to first pitch in Baltimore. There should be an update from the club following the contest. The 32-year-old fantasy stalwart is presumably day-to-day for now. Ildemaro Vargas was inserted into the leadoff spot and will handle second base in his absence.

Marte’s first homer, on a high fastball about a foot above the zone, was projected at 443 feet. He’s still batting just .212 on the season, but he now has four homers in 72 plate appearances.

It looks to be nothing more than a routine breather for the 32-year-old infielder. Marte is off to a slow start offensively this season, slashing .197/.258/.328 with a pair of homers, seven RBI and zero stolen bases in his first 66 plate appearances while playing every inning of the team’s first 15 games. Ildemaro Vargas will start in his place at second base and hit leadoff for the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

After trailing 4-0, Marte put the Diamondbacks on the board with a two-run single and helped to send Jesús Luzardo to a full-blown implosion in the fifth inning. It was an especially welcome sight because of how poorly Marte has begun the season. Even after reaching twice here, his triple slash is still a putrid .193/.258/.281 through the first two weeks of play. It’s very early though and there shouldn’t be any real cause for concern with a player of Marte’s caliber.

The Marte party. He also scored a run in this one, but it was his RBI two-bagger off Joel Payamps to score Jorge Barrosa that fantasy managers will be please as punch to see. The 32-year-old has scuffled in the early portion of the year, but it’d be more surprising than not if we see many more games like this in 2026.

The initial lineup showed Carroll hitting leadoff, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters there was a “typo.” We can’t relate. Ketel Marte will remain at the top against Bryce Elder and the Atlanta bullpen.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has flipped Carroll and Ketel Marte in the batting order with the latter off to a dismal 5-for-30 start at the plate through eight games. The move hopefully is able to jump-start Marte with the added benefit of getting Carroll a few additional plate appearances to do some damage.

While Lourdes Gurriel is sidelined, the 23-year-old will have a chance to see regular at-bats for the Diamondbacks — essentially battling Alek Thomas to see who sticks in the lineup upon Gurriel’s return. Here’s the full lineup that the Diamondbacks will use against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers on Friday evening in Los Angeles: Ketel Marte (2B), Corbin Carroll (RF), Geraldo Perdomo (SS), Gabriel Moreno (C), Pavin Smith (DH), Nolan Arenado (3B), Carlos Santana (1B), Alex Thomas (CF) and Jordan Lawlar (LF).