Diamondbacks manager says injured Ketel Marte may visit casino during game

Arizona placed second baseman Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list on Thursday because of left-knee inflammation. Social-media posts showed him at Talking Stick Resort casino near the team's Salt River Fields complex during Friday’s 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The Diamondbacks had earlier moved Marte to the restricted list after he missed Monday’s game at Fenway without notifying the organization.

Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that injured players are not obligated to remain with the team for games and that Marte was at the complex on Friday morning completing his prescribed rehab. > "He's free to do whatever he wants. That's how I look at it," Lovullo said, adding that the priority was for Marte to return to work the next day. He also noted that once a player is cleared by the medical staff, they may spend evenings with family.

When asked whether appearing at a casino during a game was appropriate, Lovullo paused before responding. Pitcher Kevin Ginkel said the team needed Marte’s presence and expressed disappointment over the unexplained absences. The Diamondbacks improved to 68-61, staying within one game of the National League wild-card lead with 33 games left in the season. Marte, who has a .249/.314/.446 slash line, leads Arizona with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs.