The Pittsburgh Pirates have been fighting for a Wild Card spot, but they will have to continue without left fielder Sterling Marte, who will not be in the starting lineup tonight versus the Chicago Cubs.
Starling Marte will not be in the starting lineup again for the Pirates. He's available as a pinch runner. No timetable for his return
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) September 13, 2014
Marte remains day-to-day with a sore left elbow after he was hit by a pitch thrown by Philadelphia Phillies starter A.J. Burnett and subsequently left the game. X-rays on the elbow were negative but it remains painful for Marte to swing a bat.
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The 25-year-old Marte has had a good season for the Pirates, and had been especially hot since returning to action from the seven-day concussion disabled list on August 5.
Six of Marte’s 11 home runs have come since August 5, and Pittsburgh was already without third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot and will likely miss the remainder of the year. In 441 at bats this year, Marte is slashing .286/.357/.447.
Pittsburgh holds the second Wild Card spot, just two-and-a-half games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals, but are just a game-and-a-half ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.