Marte day to day with pinkie fracture (source)
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Marlins center fielder Starling Marte was hit by pitches nine times during the regular season, including four since being acquired from the D-backs at the Aug. 31 Trade Deadline.
Marte was struck again by a pitch on Wednesday afternoon in the Marlins’ 5-1 victory over the Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series opener at Wrigley Field. A source told MLB.com that an X-ray revealed Marte sustained a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his left hand. Miami still considers his status as day to day.
• NL Wild Card Series presented by Hankook Tire, Game 2: Fri., 2 p.m. ET on ABC
Shop for postseason gear: Acquired by Arizona to solidify center field, the nine-year veteran has regularly batted second for Miami, hitting .245 with four homers and 13 RBIs since joining the club.
In Wednesday’s win, Marte went 2-for-4 to go along with the hit-by-pitch.
“Star's been hit like three times on that hand since we've acquired him,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Then he gets hit in the head the other day. He's been like a target almost.”
Leading off Wednesday's ninth inning, Marte was plunked by reliever Dan Winkler’s 92.2 mph sinker.
The pitch hit the side of Marte’s hand, and he was replaced by pinch-runner Monte Harrison.
Marte appeared in 61 regular-season games, because he had played an extra game before being dealt to the Marlins.
It marked the second straight game in which Marte had to exit due to being hit by a pitch.
In Miami’s 5-0 win against the Yankees on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Marte was clipped on the brim of his helmet by Clarke Schmidt’s 94.6 mph fastball. He avoided a further scare, because he dealt with a bruised left ear caused by the helmet dislodging on impact.
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The Marlins acquired Marte from the D-backs for left-hander Caleb Smith and right-handed pitching prospect Humberto Mejía.
If Marte is out, Lewis Brinson and Harrison are candidates to play center field.
“[Marte] has been bouncing back from everything else,” Mattingly said. “Hopefully, we get good results with everything, and we'll see where he's at.”
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