On Tuesday, Arizona Diamondbacks stars Ketel Marte and Christian Walker will team up to anchor the right side of the infield against the Texas Rangers for the first time since July 29. Marte, who has been recovering from an ankle injury, is set to return to his natural position at second base after previously easing back into the lineup as a designated hitter.
Both players have made their way back into the lineup during Arizona’s recent road trip, but Marte has yet to play more than an inning in the field since suffering his injury on April 10. Neither player participated in a rehab assignment, and they both sat out during Sunday Night Baseball in Houston.
With two off days this week, Walker expressed confidence in both players’ readiness. “I feel good about both of them,” said manager Torey Lovullo. “Walker has been in more of a fielding mode, getting normal at-bats back-to-back. I’m feeling like he’s on his way, but we’ll continue to manage his time.”
Regarding Marte’s return, Lovullo noted, “Today is the first day of the unknown. He’s going to play the field and feels comfortable. He’ll give us his best effort to complete the game at his normal pace. There are a few things he needs to work through, but I believe that will come with the reps he’ll get today.”
This dynamic duo has contributed significantly to the team this season, combining for 8.2 bWAR, 53 home runs, and 154 RBIs, while both are in contention for Gold Gloves. Their return is timely, especially as fill-ins like Josh Bell, Pavin Smith, Kevin Newman, and Luis Guillorme have stepped up to keep the team competitive. Smith, who recently had a three-homer game, continues to fill in for Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who is recovering from a calf strain.
“Nothing but trust and faith in this group,” Walker commented. “That’s been the theme this year—guys go down, and others step up.” Smith echoed this sentiment, stating, “Being able to contribute during this time is pretty cool. We’ve been missing some of our best players, but others have risen to the occasion.”
With Marte back in the lineup, the Diamondbacks can now deploy a powerful top four of Corbin Carroll, Marte, Joc Pederson, and Walker, with Pederson occupying the designated hitter spot. Lovullo remains optimistic about the potential return of Gurriel and catcher Gabriel Moreno from the injured list, hoping for a complete lineup as the season nears its conclusion.
Diamondbacks Evaluate Creative Rotation Options
The Diamondbacks had a day off on Monday, leaving them with two remaining off days before the season wraps up. Lovullo indicated that the team is discussing the possibility of pushing pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, who are set to start Tuesday and Wednesday, into more games by strategically utilizing these days off.
Arizona’s starting rotation has struggled throughout the season, posting a 4.80 ERA. Despite recent improvements since regaining some health, their ERA has climbed to 5.35 since August 11. However, Gallen and Kelly recently excelled in their outing against the San Francisco Giants, combining for 13 innings and allowing just two earned runs. Gallen notably pitched six hitless innings in that game, leading Lovullo to believe he is on the verge of a strong performance streak.
“We take deep dives into direct matchups against teams, analyzing how they perform against righties and lefties,” Lovullo explained. “We want to line things up in the best way to help us win games. It involves probabilities and matchups, and it takes hours of discussion to reach a solid plan.”
Gallen is set to face the Rangers for the first time since Game 5 of the World Series at Chase Field last fall, matching up against the same opposing starter, Nathan Eovaldi. With both Marte and Walker back in the lineup and the pitching staff being carefully managed, the Diamondbacks are poised to make a strong push as the season comes to a close.
