Arizona Diamondbacks utility man and National League MVP candidate Ketel Marte will undergo a precautionary MRI after exiting last night's game with back stiffness:
Torey Lovullo said Ketel Marte will get a "precautionary MRI" tomorrow and will not be in tomorrow's lineup.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) September 18, 2019
The Diamondbacks have essentially fallen out of the NL playoff race. They stand 5 1/2 games out of the second Wild Card spot entering play on Wednesday, and Marte's absence does not do much to inspire a miraculous run to October.
Marte's injury is as frustrating for fans as it is for his own club. After a breakout campaign in 2018, Marte has taken the MLB by storm in 2019. He was named an All-Star starter for the NL, and he has actually outperformed his first-half numbers by a wide margin.
The 25-year-old is slashing .358/.434/.647 with 12 homers in the second half, and he has already drawn 27 walks — which is one more than his first-half total — in 140 fewer plate appearances.
Marte currently ranks sixth in baseball in fWAR for the whole season and fourth in the fWAR during the second half. He leads the MLB in total bases (337) while also leading the NL in hits (187).
Aside from his prolific season at the plate, Marte has been one of the more valuable defensive players in the game. He has played numerous positions (outfield, second base and shortstop) at a high level while giving manager Torey Lovullo a plethora of options for his lineup cards.
Even if the Diamondbacks are unlikely to reach the postseason, it would be a shame for Marte to miss an extended period of time. He has been one of the best players in baseball, and he deserves to finish this remarkable season on a high note.
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