Miami Marlins center fielder Starling Marte will be available to pinch run or play defense in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, manager Don Mattingly told SiriusXM Radio.
Game 2 had been scheduled for Thursday, but it has been pushed to Friday because of inclement weather. The game will now be played at 2:08 p.m. ET Friday, unless it is the only wild-card game remaining. If that’s the case, it will begin at 7:08 p.m. ET. Game 3, if necessary, will be played Saturday.
Marte was hit in the left hand by a fastball and suffered a nondisplaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal — the bone that leads into the pinkie finger — in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 5-1 win in Game 1 of the best-of-3 series at Wrigley Field.
He was listed as day-to-day by the Marlins on Wednesday.
Mattingly, appearing on SiriusXM Radio on Thursday, said Marte probably will not take any at-bats in Game 2. Marte was to have been replaced by Magneuris Sierra in center field for Thursday’s game, prior to it being postponed.
Marte, 31, was hit by Cubs reliever Dan Winkler and was in obvious pain, quickly retreating down the clubhouse tunnel to have X-rays. He was replaced by Monte Harrison.
Acquired at the trade deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Marte hit .281 with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs and 10 stolen bases this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.