ATLANTA - Ketel Marte’s night ended fast Friday against the Atlanta Braves, and the Diamondbacks are left waiting to learn how bad it is.
Marte exited in the second inning after a ground ball came his way and he bobbled the play before leaving with left knee soreness. Arizona has not yet determined whether the issue is just a precautionary setback or something more serious, but the immediate worry is clear: the Diamondbacks can’t afford to lose one of the most important bats in their lineup as the postseason race tightens.
Marte has been one of Arizona’s most dangerous offensive players, and his value isn’t limited to what he does at the plate. He helps steady the lineup, makes opposing pitchers work, and gives the club a veteran presence in the middle of a team trying to hang on in the National League playoff picture.
His recent production only underscores why this injury lands so hard. Marte homered against Colorado on Tuesday, then followed that with two hits and an RBI in Wednesday’s loss while Arizona continued battling for wild-card position. That kind of stretch is exactly why his second-inning exit against Atlanta feels so significant.
The Diamondbacks do have enough talent to absorb some injuries, but replacing Marte’s all-around impact is a much tougher task. If the soreness turns out to be minor, Arizona can exhale. If it leads to a longer absence, the team could be staring at one of its biggest problems of the season.
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