The drama swirling around Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte took a wild turn on Friday when he was spotted at a casino, reportedly gambling, while his team was actively playing a game. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed Marte at Talking Stick Resort casino during Arizona’s 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. This whole thing is blowing up after Marte was already placed on the 10-day injured list for left knee inflammation on Thursday, following an earlier stint on the restricted list for being a no-show at Monday’s loss against the Boston Red Sox without any communication. Seriously, what is going on here?
The Unexplained Absence Just Got Weirder
It’s a complete mess, let’s be real. Marte’s unexplained absence for that Red Sox game created a massive controversy within the D-Backs’ management and among his teammates. They were all still waiting to hear why he ghosted them on Monday, why he didn’t talk to anyone. Then, BAM, he’s at a casino while his team is out there fighting. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo tried to play it cool after Friday’s game, saying, “He’s free to do whatever he wants. That’s how I look at it.” He even defended Marte, adding that injured players aren’t required to be with the team during games and that Marte *did* do his rehab work at Salt River on Friday morning. Lovullo said Marte was “turned loose from the medical team,” free to have an evening with his family. But come on, a casino? During the game? That’s not a good look, no matter how you spin it.
Lovullo’s Betrayal and the Team’s Frustration
Lovullo’s attempt to defend Marte after the casino sighting felt pretty hollow. Especially when you consider what he said *before* Friday’s game: he admitted he “felt betrayed” by Marte’s behavior, saying he was frustrated and “clearly hurt” by the complete lack of communication and accountability. Marte reportedly met with team president Derrick Hall and general manager Mike Hazen on Thursday to explain himself, but Lovullo and the players? They’re still in the dark. Pitcher Kevin Ginkel put it bluntly before Friday’s game, saying, “For us to go where we want to go, we’ve got to have him here. It’s disappointing how the things that happened happened. There’s really no explanation for it.” That’s the real kicker right there: the team has no explanation for any of this.
This isn’t just some minor dust-up; this is a full-blown crisis in the middle of a playoff push. Arizona’s record improved to 68-61 with Friday’s win, putting them just one game behind the San Diego Padres for the National League’s final wild-card spot. They’ve got 33 games left on the regular season schedule, including a crucial three-game series against those same Padres at Petco Park. Marte is a huge bat, leading the D-Backs with 21 home runs and 67 RBI in 118 games. Without him, and with this kind of internal drama, that wild-card spot looks like a much tougher climb.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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