Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged that second baseman Ketel Marte’s decision to hit up a local casino while his teammates were playing a game across town might not have been the best look, but Lovullo repeated what he said a night earlier by pointing out that Marte did not violate any rules.
“The optics wasn’t very good,” Lovullo said on Saturday, Aug. 22, a day after Marte was spotted at Talking Stick Resort while the Diamondbacks were in the middle of their game against the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field. “It’s not a choice I would make. I’m sure it’s a choice a lot of people in this room wouldn’t make. Ketel is a grown man, and he can make his own decisions. He did not break any rules. He was fully able to go there and do what he wanted to do.
“Like I said, he makes his own decisions. When he’s here in the clubhouse, we work together on a lot of things. Not just him, all the players. They have their own lives, and they can do whatever they want in their free time.”
It capped a dramatic stretch for the Diamondbacks’ star, whose week included a no-show at Fenway Park in Boston and his subsequent placement on the restricted list, an MRI on his knee and a lengthy meeting with team officials.
Marte was transferred from the restricted list to the injured list on Thursday, Aug. 20. Lovullo said Marte was at Salt River Fields on Saturday morning to undergo treatment as planned. Marte has been limited in his baseball activities, Lovullo said, adding that he could begin a hitting progression early next week.
Lovullo said the club has plans in place for Marte to meet with his teammates.
“Yes, there is a plan,” Lovullo said. “I don’t want to go into it. But, yes, there is.”
Reds at Diamondbacks, 5:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (8-3, 2.93) vs. Reds RHP Rhett Lowder (4-8, 5.17).
At Chase Field: Soroka has made two starts since returning from the injured list and has pitched well in both. After turning in 4 1/3 scoreless innings against the Rockies, he gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Braves in Atlanta, walking one and striking out five. … Soroka faced the Reds on June 13, giving up one run in seven innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. … He matched up that night against Lowder, who allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings. … Lowder’s struggles earlier in the year led to him spending 2 1/2 weeks in the Reds’ bullpen. He was then hammered by the Rockies (eight runs in 2 1/3 innings) in his return to the rotation, but has pitched fairly well in five starts since, posting a 3.72 ERA in 29 innings. … Lowder averages 92.9 mph with his sinker. He throws four other pitches as well, getting most of his swing and miss with his slider.
Coming up
Sunday, Aug. 23: At Chase Field, 1:15 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (1-2, 4.17) vs. Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (6-7, 4.07).
Monday, Aug. 24: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-11, 5.37) vs. Cubs RHP Kevin Gausman (6-11, 4.58).
Tuesday, Aug. 25: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.39) vs. Cubs RHP Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.49).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Reds-Diamondbacks. Casino optics 'wasn't very good' for Ketel Marte
