The Arizona Diamondbacks are just one game back of the third and final NL Wild Card spot entering Saturday. Unfortunately for Arizona, it hasn’t exactly been “all hands on deck.” Three-time All-Star Ketel Marte didn’t show up for Arizona’s game against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, leading to his being placed on the restricted list.
“It’s been a crazy day,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after an 11-1 loss. “All I know is that he’s dealing with a personal issue — we’re just trying to figure that out. He didn’t show up today, and he was put on the restricted list. That’s as much as I know right now. I’m sure in time we’ll start to uncover some information.”
After meeting with the ball club’s brass following teh no-show, Marte was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a knee injury. However, the story took another twist on Friday night.
According to SleeperMLB, Marte was spotted at a Casino while his teammates were competing against the Cincinnati Reds.
Ketel Marte was spotted at a casino last night during the Diamondbacks game.
Arizona is 1 game back from a WC spot… and their star player… is gambling.
Marte was recently placed on the IL with a knee injury. pic.twitter.com/dWqgKiB2RR
— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) August 22, 2026
Mixed Reactions
Even with Marte being on the injured list, fans on social media couldn’t believe his lack of awareness, although Lovullo didn’t appear overly concerned.
“When you’re turned loose from the medical team over there [Salt River Fields], you’re allowed to go home and have an evening with your family. So he’s free to do whatever he wants,” Lovullo said after Arizona’s win over the Reds.
“Not sure where we’re gonna arrive on all this Ketel Marte stuff but hitting the casino feels like, at a minimum, an incredible lack of awareness,” one fan posted on X.
“He may just have a gambling problem I bet when in Boston he was just chillin at Encore all day,” another fan speculated.
Hopefully, Marte is doing alright both personally and with his health, and is able to get any help he may need if he is strugglin wth something.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.