Diamondbacks manager gets candid about Ketel Marte’s status as mystery around absence grows: ‘Gotta get him right’

Nypost · Aug 18, 2026 · 406 words · By Christian Arnold

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What to know about Diamondbacks manager gets candid about Ketel Marte’s status as mystery around absence grows: ‘Gotta get him right’

Plenty of confusion still remains surrounding the circumstances with Ketel Marte and the Diamondbacks, and manager Torey Lovullo did little to clear things up on Tuesday ahead of Arizona’s game against the Red Sox.

Claims checked 6

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center83%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Marte is said to be headed back to Arizona to undergo an MRI exam on his left knee, which the Arizona Republic reported Tuesday, but the Diamondbacks skipper didn’t know if that had anything to do with why he did not show up for Monday’s game.

Common ground

Lovullo told reporters when he met with them before the second of a three-game set with the Red Sox that he was “told” that Marte had gone back to Phoenix to get testing done on his let knee, but also added, “I don’t know that for sure.” Marte’s absence on…

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Diamondbacks manager gets candid about Ketel Marte’s status as mystery around absence grows: ‘Gotta get him right’?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that has been hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs this season for Arizona?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/sports/diamondbacks-manager-gets-candid-about-kete…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “has been hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs this season for Arizona.”

CORROBORATED

Three separate sources (AOL, a report on the 10-day IL, and iHeart) all cite the exact same statistics: .249 batting average, 21 home runs, and 67 RBIs.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Arizona Diamondbacks season is the franchise's 29th season in Major League Baseball and their 29th season at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, as members of the National League West. They are …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Arizona_Diamondbacks_seas…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Arizona Diamondbacks (often referred to as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member cl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Diamondbacks

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ketel Ricardo Marte Valdez (Spanish: [keˈtel maɾˈte] keh-TELL mar-TEH; born October 12, 1993) is a Dominican professional baseball second baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketel_Marte

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Marte is said to be headed back to Arizona to undergo an MRI exam on his left knee, which the Arizona Republic reported Tuesday”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (FOX 10 Phoenix, Yahoo Sports/NY Post, and a report citing the Arizona Republic) confirm that Ketel Marte returned to Arizona for an MRI on his knee.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2023 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2023 season, and the 119th edition of the World Series. It was a best-of-seven playoff played between the National Le…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_World_Series

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Los Angeles Dodgers season is the 137th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 69th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 65th season playin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Los_Angeles_Dodgers_seaso…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Steal a Base, Steal a Taco is a marketing gimmick by Taco Bell in which free tacos are offered to all customers in the United States of America to commemorate the first stolen base in Major League Bas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steal_a_Base,_Steal_a_Taco

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “Marte’s absence on Monday prompted the Diamondbacks to put him on the restricted list for what the team had said was a “personal issue.””

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Marte was placed on the restricted list on Monday. One source explicitly mentions the team characterized it as a 'personal issue' (via manager Lovullo), while others discuss the nature of the restricted list for non-baseball matters.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Marte had come out of a game against the Braves over the weekend in Atlanta because of soreness in his left knee, but returned to the lineup on Sunday and traveled to Boston with the rest of his team.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources (AP, Yardbarker, and another sports report) confirm the sequence of events: exiting a game against the Braves due to left knee soreness, returning Sunday, and traveling to Boston.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 94th All-Star Game of Major League Baseball (MLB). The game was played between the American League (AL) and the National League (NL) on July 16, 20…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Major_League_Baseball_All…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game played between the American League (AL) and the National League (NL) of Major League Baseball. The game wa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_All…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Kimbrel

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “Marte is a three-time MLB All-Star”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (Yahoo Sports, Yardbarker, and a report on his absence) explicitly state that Ketel Marte is a three-time MLB All-Star.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “This is not the first time Marte has ended up on the restricted list, landing there last season when he returned to the Dominican Republic and missed three games.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one source (AOL) specifically mentions that Marte was on the restricted list last season for three games after returning to the Dominican Republic. Other sources discuss his current restricted list status but not the specific details of the previous year's incident.

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web search NEUTRAL — Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks returns to the dugout after scoring in the ninth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 16, 2026. The Diamondbacks placed Ketel Ma…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7520327/2026/08/17/ketel-ma…

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web search NEUTRAL — Last year, Marte missed three games after the All-Star break when he traveled home to the Dominican Republic. He apologized for his absence. Marte is hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI this sea…
https://www.aol.com/articles/ketel-marte-placed-restricted-l…

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web search NEUTRAL — Marte went AWOL during Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox and was placed on the restricted list. Right before the game, infielder Jose Fernandez was recalled to take Marte’s place.
https://www.azfamily.com/2026/08/18/reports-d-backs-ketel-ma…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.