New York Mets outfielder/designated hitter Starling Marte (knee) is scheduled to play right field in a Grapefruit League game on Friday for the first time this spring, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Marte is expected to be the Opening Day DH against a left-handed pitcher, but his ability to play the outfield is still important to him. Marte got a late start to spring action due to a bone bruise in his right knee, but he's now been cleared to start playing some defense. The 36-year-old Dominican veteran has gone 3-for-14 with a double and six strikeouts in five Grapefruit League games entering Friday's action. Most of Marte's plate appearances in his 14th year in the big leagues in 2025 should come at DH. At this point in his career, there's little fantasy upside because of his injury risk and the fact that he's unlikely to run much.
Starling Marte Serving As DH On Monday In Spring Debut
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth on Monday in the Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It is the spring training debut for the aging Marte, who hadn't played until this point due to soreness in his right knee. If the 36-year-old can avoid setbacks and also return to action on defense in right field, he should be able to avoid starting the 2025 regular season on the injured list. Still, it's a reminder to fantasy managers that Marte is an extreme injury risk in the twilight of his career and can't be counted on as a speed threat anymore. To preserve his health, the Mets are expected to give Marte plenty of built in rest days, which means he won't be a regular anymore after the team signed superstar outfielder Juan Soto this offseason as the everyday right fielder. Expect a short-side platoon for Marte with Jesse Winker in center field. UPDATE: Marte was happy with how his knee felt on Monday in his spring debut and didn't have trouble running to second on a double he hit in the second inning.
The New York Post's Joel Sherman writes that the Kansas City Royals made a push to acquire outfielder Starling Marte from the New York Mets in the winter, but the two sides couldn't come to an agreement after the Mets asked for a reliever such as Hunter Harvey or Angel Zerpa. While Marte remains with the Mets, Sherman says that the Royals haven't completely given up on the possibility of trading for Marte. The 36-year-old is near the end of his career and has battled injuries in recent seasons, including right-knee soreness this spring, but he'd be a nice veteran presence for a young Royals club that surprisingly made the playoffs last fall. At this point, regardless of where he's playing, Marte probably won't be an everyday player after suiting up for a combined 180 games the last two years for the Mets. Both his power and speed numbers are dwindling in the twilight of his career.
Starling Marte To Take Live Batting Practice In Early March
MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports that New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (knee) will begin taking live batting practice early in March on the back fields in camp. The veteran outfielder has been dealing with knee soreness since last summer, although the Mets remain confident he'll be good to go for Opening Day in late March. The 36-year-old Dominican outfielder hasn't played in more than 118 games in his three seasons in Queens due to injuries, and he's hit only 12 home runs with 68 RBI and 40 stolen bases in 180 games combined the last two years. With Juan Soto now New York's starting right fielder, it seems likely that Marte will be in line for a reduced role in New York between the outfield and designated hitter in 2025. It would not be a surprise if the Mets play it safe and put him on the injured list to begin the year. He's ranked as the No. 100 fantasy outfielder at RotoBaller.
Starling Marte, Jesse Winker Set To Platoon At Designated Hitter
According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, New York Mets outfielders Starling Marte and Jesse Winker are set to platoon at the designated hitter spot to open the season. Castillo noted that Marte could see occasional starts in right field. As a result, Marte will be on the short side of the platoon, given that he is the right-handed bat. Last season, the 36-year-old posted a .269/.327/.388 line with seven home runs and 16 stolen bases. However, when facing left-handed pitchers, Marte was quite effective as he posted a strong .310/.384/.460 line. Winker resigned with the Mets on a one-year contract earlier this offseason. Facing right-handers, Winker held a .258/.366/.422 slash line. As a result, both players will have limited values in fantasy, given that they will share playing time. However, both could be valuable in deeper NL-only formats, especially in daily lineup leagues.
Starling Marte Knocks Three Doubles As Part Of Four-Hit Night
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte knocked three doubles and collected three RBI as part of a four-hit night in the Mets' 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Marte went 4-for-5 at the plate and added a run as part of his huge night. The 36-year-old has started to heat up a bit in the NLCS, now posting his second game of the series with three or more hits. His postseason OPS rose to .785 after Friday's explosion. The Mets will continue to need his bat to produce as they fight to force a Game 7 on Sunday. Coincidentally, the Mets have won both games where Marte has recorded three or more hits in the NLCS. DFS managers can expect Marte to be back in the lineup on Sunday in Los Angeles, where the Mets are expected to face a bullpen game from the Dodgers.
New York Mets outfielders Starling Marte and Jesse Winker are both on the bench for Game 1 of the team's big divisional doubleheader on Monday at Truist Park against the Atlanta Braves. Harrison Bader is starting in center field and batting ninth, while Tyrone Taylor gets the nod in right field and will bat seventh against Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach. Bader has never faced Schwellenbach before, while Taylor is hitless in just three at-bats against him. The 35-year-old Marte is typically a lineup regular for the Mets, but he enters Monday's big doubleheader with just one hit in his last five games and hasn't homered in the second half of the season. Bader gives the Mets a nice little power-speed combination at the bottom of the lineup, but he comes into Monday with no hits and five strikeouts in 12 plate appearances in his last six games dating back to Sept. 20.
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte will start on the bench for Friday's series opener versus the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Jesse Winker will instead make the start in right field for the Mets and bat sixth against Brewers right-hander Frankie Montas. Even after the Mets' last two games against the division-rival Atlanta Braves were rained out, Marte will take a seat to start a three-game weekend set in Milwaukee. Marte hasn't been great in 15 games in September, batting .229 (11-for-48) with no homers, a double, a triple, nine RBI and 10 strikeouts. Winker will be an interesting DFS play on Friday with a .286 career average and .786 OPS in seven total at-bats against Montas in his career. The 31-year-old left-handed slugger has 13 of his 14 homers on the year against righties while hitting .260 (88-for-339) against them in 401 plate appearances.
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (forearm) is back in right field and hitting in the two-hole on Tuesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals and left-hander Mitchell Parker at Citi Field. Marte was hit by a pitch on his forearm on Saturday and missed two games as a result, but he's back in action on Tuesday for the second game of the series against the Nats. The 35-year-old veteran came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in Monday's contest and went 1-for-2 with a walk-off RBI single in extra innings. Fantasy managers will want to get Marte back in their starting lineups, especially against a young left-handed hurler. He's hitting .272 (83-for-305) on the year and has gone 28-for-88 (.318) with two of his seven long balls on the year against southpaws.
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte played the hero in Monday's 2-1 extra-innings win over the Nationals. Marte entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter and hit into a ground-out. His next at-bat came in the bottom of the 10th inning and resulted in a walk-off single. The 35-year-old veteran has cooled off in the second half but has still provided serviceable numbers this season when healthy, slashing .272/.321/.400 with seven home runs, 40 runs scored, 38 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 332 plate appearances. He should continue to offer a decent floor in the bottom of the Mets lineup as they push for a playoff spot.
Starling Marte
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Mets
