The Diamondbacks may be about to get a major piece back at the right time.
After taking a three-game series from the Reds with a 5-3 win on Sunday, Arizona is still within striking distance of the final NL Wild Card spot, sitting just two games back. The next stop is another NL Central test against the Cubs, and after that comes a four-game trip to San Francisco to face the Giants. But the bigger development for the Diamondbacks could arrive next week, when Ketel Marte is tentatively expected to rejoin the club.
According to MLB insider Francys Romero on X, Marte is expected to be activated next Tuesday, when Arizona opens a home series against the Phillies. Romero said, “Ketel Marte is tentatively expected to be activated next Tuesday, when the D-backs open their series against the Phillies in Arizona,” and added, “The infielder began his knee rehab last Friday in Arizona, putting him on track for a potential return.”
Marte’s absence has been tied to a messy stretch for both sides. The veteran second baseman, who has been the subject of trade rumors over the last 12-18 months, left the team after it reached Boston to face the Red Sox. Arizona later moved him from the restricted list to the injured list after an MRI showed left knee inflammation.
The situation got even louder late last week, when Marte was seen at a nearby casino while the Diamondbacks were playing at home. Reports now suggest there’s real frustration inside the clubhouse, and the timing only adds to the uncertainty around what comes next.
With Arizona trying to claw its way back into the postseason picture, Marte’s return could become a major storyline. The question now is whether he’s ready to be part of a run that matters, and whether this stretch could reshape what comes after the season, too.
In Other News...
Merrill Kelly Just Put A Frustrating D-Backs Loss In A New Light
Merrill Kellys postgame comments added a fresh layer to an already frustrating night for the Diamondbacks, one that ended with him allowing three earned runs and five hits. After the game, Kelly pointed to Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry and accused him of relaying signs, drawing a sharp distinction between players trying to pick up information and a coach getting involved.
For Arizona, the issue goes beyond one unpleasant loss. Kelly said sign stealing is part of baseball, but he made clear he does not view a coachs role the same way, which is the kind of complaint that tends to linger well after the final out. It left the Diamondbacks with another layer of irritation to sort through, even as the larger concern remains how to move past a game that felt costly on the field and messier afterward. [Read more 🡒]
Starling Martes Return Carries Big Stakes For Arizonas Playoff Push
Starling Marte is edging closer to rejoining the lineup, and the timing could matter plenty for a Diamondbacks club trying to keep its postseason push on track. Manager Torey Lovullo said Marte is on schedule to come off the 10-day injured list early next week, with a possible return as soon as the series opener against the Phillies after being sidelined by left knee inflammation.
Marte has already been cleared to take batting practice, but Arizona is still proceeding carefully rather than rushing him back. Lovullo made clear the plan is to make sure Marte is healthy and ready to play before putting him back in the mix, a sensible approach with the stretch run tightening and every healthy bat carrying extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Ketel Marte Nears Return As Diamondbacks Face A Bigger Question
Ketel Marte is expected to come off the 10-day injured list early next week, a welcome sign for a Diamondbacks club that has been waiting to get one of its most important hitters back in the mix. Marte landed on the shelf last Thursday because of inflammation in his left knee, and since then he has been rehabbing at Arizonas spring training complex while the team has tried to keep moving without him.
Torey Lovullo confirmed the update and also touched on Martes recent stretch away from the club, which included time on the restricted list for personal reasons before the knee issue added another layer to the absence. For Arizona, the timing matters because Martes return should help stabilize the lineup, even as the larger question remains how quickly he can get back to being the player the Diamondbacks have leaned on so heavily. [Read more 🡒]