Ketel Marte Out Of D-backs Lineup

Marte was scratched from the Diamondbacks’ lineup for the St. Louis makeup game due to back stiffness, a day-to-day issue that has persisted this season. The decision was announced by Steve Zinsmeister of Arizona Sports, and Marte has been dealing with soreness for several days, sometimes because of a long-running back issue. In Marte’s absence, Corbin Carroll moves into the leadoff spot, with Ildemaro Vargas shifting to second, Tim Tawa to third, and Tyler Locklear added to cover first base. The veteran infielder has a history of back problems and has frequently been kept out or used as a DH, though the team still views it as unpredictable and not necessarily a major injury. The D-backs entered the game with a slim lead on the Cardinals, and the lineup shuffle reflects an ongoing effort to manage Marte’s health during a critical road trip toward the trade deadline. Updates on Marte’s status were expected as the team assesses whether he will miss additional games beyond the current one.