Noelvi Marte's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte could open the 2025 season in the minor leagues. After acquiring Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Marte could be without a permanent spot in the lineup. The 23-year-old missed the first 80 games of the 2024 season due to a performance enhancing drug suspension and struggled in his return. Across 66 games, the infielder held an underwhelming .210/.248/.301 line with just four home runs and nine stolen bases. However, in his short 35-game stint in the majors in 2023, Marte showcased high upside with a .316/.366/.456 line and three home runs and six stolen bases. Wittenmyer noted that his performance in Spring Training will be crucial in determine his role during the start of the season. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his performance as he could continue to fall on draft boards if his struggles continue to linger.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marte will start on the bench for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Santiago Espinal will start at the hot corner and will bat eighth against Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon. In 13 career at-bats against Taillon, Espinal has hit .231 with a .462 OPS. Marte has been a regular for the Reds at either third base or designated hitter down the stretch and has hit .240 (12-for-50) with two doubles, four RBI, four walks, 18 strikeouts and three stolen bases in 15 games in the month of September. Overall, 2024 has been a disappointment for the 22-year-old Dominican after opening the year serving a suspension. He's managed to hit just .212/.251/.306 with four long balls, 18 RBI and nine stolen bases in 222 at-bats. Espinal will be a low-upside DFS sleeper at the bottom of Cincy's batting order.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte is not playing on Wednesday evening against the visiting Oakland Athletics at Great American Ballpark. Marte continues to lose playing time in Cincy despite the fact that Jeimer Candelario (toe) remains on the injured list. Santiago Espinal will make another start at third and will bat sixth for the Reds against A's right-hander Osvaldo Bido. The 22-year-old Marte got a late start to 2024 while serving a suspension and has never found his footing at the plate, entering Wednesdays contest with an even .200 average (33-for-165) with four homers, 14 RBI, six stolen bases and 54 strikeouts in 46 games played. He has gone 7-for-21 with a homer and two RBI in his last six games, but fantasy managers haven't been able to use him in mixed leagues in 2024. The 29-year-old Espinal has exactly eight steals and eight homers in 267 at-bats in 2024 and is gaining steam in NL-only leagues.