Starling Marte injury: Mets backup plan for Braves series and beyond

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte is not close to returning to the team for their pivotal series against the Atlanta Braves.

The New York Mets have already clinched a postseason berth, but it will be a matter of whether they will win the NL East, or if they will be a Wild Card team. They are set to enter a pivotal three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, who are right behind them in the standings. But will they have one of their top free agent signings available?

Outfielder Starling Marte, who fractured his middle finger back on Sept. 6, has no target date for a return, according to manager Buck Showalter. Marte’s finger is still immobilized in a splint, and the team is still waiting on the swelling and discomfort to go away, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.

Mets: Starling Marte not close to a return

Not having Marte available for the Braves series is huge for the Mets. But the fact that there is no timetable for a return is concerning, especially with New York’s regular season ending after their Oct. 5 game against the Washington Nationals.

Marte suffered a partial non-displaced fracture of his right middle finger after he got hit by a pitch from Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirate. He had been sidelined ever since.

The Mets signed Marte to bolster their outfield and to make a push for a World Series title entering the 2022 season and beyond. He played very well in his first season with the Mets, recording a .292 batting average, a .347 on-base percentage, a .468 slugging percentage, 16 home runs, 63 RBI, 76 runs scored, and 136 hits in 118 games.

Since arriving in New York, Marte has primarily played right field. Specifically 116-out-of-118 games played. Behind Marte on the right field depth chart is Tyler Naquin, who the team acquired from the Cincinnati Reds before the trade deadline. Showalter has also played All-Star second baseman Jeff McNeil in right field as well.

Marte will not be back for the series against Atlanta that could determine who will be the NL East champions. As for when he will return to the team this year remains to be seen.