by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte continued his strong start Friday, going 3 for 4 in a 7-3 win over the Mets.
Marte struck out looking to open the game, but reached base in each of his next four plate appearances. Marte had three singles and was hit by a pitch.
Marte is batting .333 through the first 35 games of the season, with 14 extra-base hits and 17 RBI, matching his totals from last season in 29 fewer at-bats.
Starling Marte keeps racking up hits
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to seven games Wednesday against the Mariners with a 2-for-4 performance. He also scored a run and had his seventh double.
Marte has 14 multi-hit games. He's hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games. He's batting .338 (22 for 65) with four doubles, four home runs, eight RBI, eight stolen bases and 14 runs in that span.
Starling Marte matches last year's homer output
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/5/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte hit a leadoff home run in Sunday's loss to Washington.
Marte went hitless the rest of the afternoon but still owns a robust .325/.390/.528 line. The home run was his fifth, matching his mark in 47 games (167 at-bats) last season.
Starling Marte on power surge
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/4/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte continued his power surge Saturday against the Nationals. Marte belted his fourth homer of the year and third in the last four games during a 5-4 defeat.
He roped the two-run shot off Stephen Strasburg in the third inning and also stole his 10th base after getting plunked with a pitch in the opening frame.
Marte, who finished 1 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored, has hit safely in 13 of the last 14 games and is batting .333 (18 for 54) with three home runs, seven RBI and 11 runs scored over that span.
Starling Marte turning into a star?
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte continues to sting the ball, as he is batting .349 over the last 10 games, with two home runs and five RBI. The former top prospect ranks 15th in Fantasy scoring for the season, but is still unowned in 10 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues. Should the remaining Fantasy owners go ahead and grab him and stick him in the lineup?
Marte currently leads the majors in hits, with 38, which has contributed to a .328 batting average. That looks great, but a .412 batting average on balls in play indicates that it is likely not the type of number he can sustain. Still, Marte is starting to look like the type of player who can remain useful even when that BABIP drops to more reasonable levels.
He has lowered his strikeout rate to 21.9 percent of his at bats, which should help Marte keep his batting average higher than the .257 mark he sported a year ago. He has also posted consistently high BABIP numbers in the minors, so his drop here might not be too precipitous. If Marte can settle in somewhere around a .250 BABIP, a batting average in the high near .280 or .290 is not out of the question.
With 30-steal potential and the power to hit double-digit home runs, Marte looks exactly like the type of undervalued asset who can overachieve this season. After a month of action, Marte has cemented himself as a dependable member of starting Fantasy lineups.
Starling Marte hits clutch home run
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte hit the game-tying home run in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against Milwaukee.
Marte finished with just the one hit in five at-bats, but it was a big one, a two-run homer off John Axford to knot the game at 4-4. The Pirates scored two more in the inning to win 6-4. Marte continues to rake, as his line sits at a robust .321/.387/.491.
Marte stays hot for Pirates
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) After watching his eight-game hitting streak end Monday night, Pirates outfielder Starling Marte was able to start a new one Tuesday against the Brewers. Marte had three hits in the 12-8 defeat, including a three-run homer in the sixth inning off reliever Burke Badenhop -- his second of the year.
He also doubled and singled to finish 3 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Marte has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games and is batting .333 (14 for 42) with a home run, three doubles and three RBI over that span.
Starling Marte continues offensive surge
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte started in center field Sunday against the Cardinals for the first time this season as Andrew McCutchen received his first day off. Marte went 2 for 5 with one run, extending his hitting streak to eight games.
Marte is batting .324 (11 for 34) with a .425 on-base percentage, two doubles, three walks, five runs and five stolen bases during his eight-game hitting streak. After batting .133 through his first four games, Marte has been one of the league's most-productive hitters in the last few weeks, batting .357 (30 for 84) in his last 20 games. Marte also has a .426 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage and .926 OPS in that span.
Starling Marte with another multi-hit game
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) After going just 2 for 15 in the previous four contests, Pirates outfielder Starling Marte was able to get back on track Tuesday against the Phillies. He went 2 for 5 with a stolen base in a 2-0 win. It was his ninth multi-hit performance.
The 24-year-old singled in his first at-bat before swiping his third base of 2013. Then in the third inning, he led off the frame with a double.
Marte is batting .321 with one homer, eight RBI and 12 runs through 19 games.
Starling Marte strikes out five times in loss
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) Pirates left fielder Starling Marte struck out five times in Pittsburgh's 6-4 loss to the Braves Thursday. He hadn't struck out more than twice in one game this season before the cringe-worthy performance.
Marte has hit .333/.364/.492 in 66 plate appearances with one home run, two steals and 19 strikeouts this season
Starling Marte worth a roll of the dice
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/16/2013) For the most part, I agree with Chris Cwik's assessment of Starling Marte. For the most part, players who strike out as often as he does don't hit much better than .260 or so, and for the most part, players who walk as little as he does struggle to meet their full potential.
But as a realist, I know "for the most part" doesn't mean "always." My theories and biases are wrong often enough for me to go against them sometimes, especially when perception demands it.
One thing the numbers can't measure for Marte is talent. He, like Adam Jones and Matt Kemp before him, has enough of it to overcome some of those theories. So while he's performing well, I'm not inclined to let him go unowned in the 24 percent of leagues where he remains so.
I wouldn't drop personal favorites like Domonic Brown or Lucas Duda for him, but I could do without players who, at their best, are only marginal, such as Torii Hunter, Alejandro De Aza and Denard Span.
Regression coming for Starling Marte
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/16/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte entered the year as a sleeper, and has made Fantasy owners look good so far. But that's unlikely to last.
The same issues that have plagued Marte in the past are already present this season. He will not take a walk, and he's going to strike out quite a bit. It's the strikeout rate that's most concerning right now. Players who punch out in about 25 percent of their plate appearances struggle to hit .260 in the majors.
Marte has been very fortunate getting balls in play thus far, which has fueled his strong start. Unless he can adjust over the next few weeks, his numbers are going to drop precipitously.
Starling Marte still streaking
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/16/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to nine games on Monday night against the Cardinals. He went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored in a 10-6 loss.
Marte doubled in his first at-bat before singling in the sixth inning. He drove in Russell Martin with another base hit in the eighth.
The 24-year-old is batting .462 (18 for 39) during his streak with one homer, seven RBI and two stolen bases.
Starling Marte hits critical home run
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013)Starling Marte hit his second home run as part of a 2 for 5, two-run, two-RBI day Sunday for the Pirates against Cincinnati.
Marte's home run, a two-run shot, gave the Pirates an 8-6 lead heading into the ninth inning. They eventually held on to win 10-7. Marte has been sharp in the early going, with a .347/.385/.490 line in his first 52 plate appearances. Such play should entrench him at the top of the Pirates' lineup.
Starling Marte runs multi-hit streak to six games
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Pirates left fielder Starling Marte collected two base hits for the sixth consecutive game in his team's 6-5 win over the Reds Friday night. He also scored a run and stole his second base of the year.
Marte is hitting .350/.395/.450 while serving as the Pirates' best batter over the first part of the season.
Starling Marte setting the table for Pirates
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte led off the game with a hit for the fifth straight contest in Wednesday's series finale against the Diamondbacks. He doubled in his first at-bat and finished 2 for 4 with an RBI in a 10-2 loss.
Marte drove in Michael McKenry with an infield single in the seventh inning.
The 24-year-old has five consecutive multi-hit performances and is batting .333 (12 for 36) through nine games.
Starling Marte stinging the ball
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte continued to swing a hot bat in Tuesday's contest against the Diamondbacks. He went 2 for 5 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. The 24-year-old also stole a base in a 6-5 win.
Marte is 8 for 17 (.471) in the last four games.
Starling Marte flashing potential
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/9/2013) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte posted his third consecutive multihit game and collected his first extra-base hit of the season during Pittsburgh's 5-3 victory at Arizona Monday night. Marte went 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk as he's improved his batting average from .133 to .296 during his three-game run.
Through seven games, Marte and fellow outfielder Andrew McCutchen have made for an exciting pair, manager Clint Hurdle said. "They're fun to watch at the plate," he said, "and they're fun to watch on the bases."
Starling Marte gets team's only two hits in loss
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) Pirates left fielder Starling Marte got each of his team's only two hits in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Dodgers. The two singles boosted Marte's average to .211 this season, though Marte also struck out for the sixth time in five games.
Marte has served as the Pirates' lead-off hitter in all five games thus far.
Starling Marte not quite worth the hype
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (4/3/2013)Starling Marte is making a run up the Most Added Players list, as he is now owned in 68 percent of our leagues, I wouldn't say he is overowned, but at this rate, he is in danger of becoming so.
Marte could provide as many as 30 stolen bases, and atop the Pirates' order, he could help owners with runs and a decent batting average. However, Marte's doubles and triples power is better suited for points leagues, but a likely shortage of walks will hurt him in those formats.
If you're looking for a speed-and-power source for your outfield, you're actually better off with Carlos Gomez, even with his history of poor batting averages. Gomez, with an 82 percent ownership rate, may be harder to acquire, but then again, that's how it should be.
Starling Marte excels against righties in spring
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/30/2013) Pirates left fielder Starling Marte has excelled against right-handed pitchers this spring, hitting .359/.405/.487 in 39 plate appearances. He has a .323/.373/.468 line in 68 plate appearances this spring.
Marte closed out the spring with another solid performance Saturday, and he showed a bit more balance. Marte hit a second-inning grand slam off Tony Watson, a lefty for the team's Double-A affiliate. He went 2 for 3 in the final tune up for the regular season.
Marte is expected to lead off for the Pirates this season and is unlikely to be used as a platoon player if he keeps posting strong performances against right-handed pitching. He struggled against right-handers last season, hitting just .236/.277/.350 in 132 plate appearances against them with the Pirates.
Starling Marte an Adam Eaton equivalent?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) Are you bummed about losing Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Eaton as a Draft Day sleeper? Well, then do I have the alternative option for you -- Pirates outfielder Starling Marte.
I think folks are forgetting about Marte because he's overshadowed in the same outfield by superstar Andrew McCutchen. But if you recall, Marte had quite the hype last season before having mixed results after making his MLB debut.
I just want to bring to your attention a side-by-side comparison of Marte and Eaton. Marte's line in 47 MLB games last season was .257/.300/.437/.737. Eaton's in 22 games was .259/.382/.412/.794.
Eaton's minor-league line (.355/.456/.510/.966) is quite impressive, but Marte's line at Double-A (.332/.370/.500/.870) and Triple-A (.286/.347/.500/.847) is nothing to scoff at.
Marte's stolen base potential doesn't measure up to Eaton's, which is why the Diamondbacks outfielder was being drafted ahead of Marte in Head-to-Head and Rotisserie formats, but in my opinion, Marte is a suitable Draft Day replacement with Eaton out due to an elbow injury.
I forgot to mention what Marte has been doing this spring. Through 17 spring games, he's batting .340 with a .392 on-base percentage, .532 slugging percentage, .924 OPS, three doubles, three triples and three stolen bases.
Marte working on plate discipline
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/26/2013) The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the Pirates want outfielder Starling Marte to develop more plate discipline. “There are guys who've been successful as bad-ball hitters, but the odds are against it,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “We don't want to take away his aggressiveness. We want to improve his selectivity.” In 47 games as a rookie in 2012, Marte hit .257 with a .300 on-base percentage and struck out in 28 percent of his at-bats. “He's one of those guys who (in the minors) has been able to put a lot of balls in play and thinks he can get to a lot of things,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He's got to understand that up here, the level of pitching is improved.”
