PITTSBURGH — A second key member of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup is starting to look like a candidate for the disabled list.
Left fielder Starling Marte was not in the lineup for a fourth straight game Thursday night as the Pirates lost 4-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series.
Marte was injured Sunday while swinging and missing at a pitch in a win over the Cleveland Indians.
The Pirates have four days off next week for the All-Star break before returning to action July 17 against the Brewers at Milwaukee. If Marte misses the series with the Cardinals and is placed on the 15-day disabled list, he would be eligible to return as soon as July 21 for a game against the Royals at Kansas City.
“Absolutely,” manager Clint Hurdle said when asked if a DL move would make sense.
Third baseman Josh Harrison was placed on the DL on Monday and will likely be out through the end of August after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Marte underwent a pre-game workout for a second straight day Thursday but showed only minimal improvement.
“We’ve put him through a battery of testing, run and throw, a little hitting to see what he can swing,” Hurdle said.
Marte is hitting .281 with 13 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 80 games. He is ranked as the fourth-best defensive outfielder in the National League, according to metrics at fangraphs.com.