New York Mets' Starling Marte Still Dealing With Neck Issue

Mets outfielder Starling Marte is still dealing with a neck issue that has been lingering for over a week.

LOS ANGELES - It hasn't subsided. 

Right fielder Starling Marte exited Wednesday's game against the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth inning due to neck stiffness. 

This is the same neck issue that has been bothering him since Easter (April 9) when he slid into Marlins' Jean Segura at third base. 

When he first hurt his neck, Marte missed just one game and returned to the lineup two days later. But since then, he has gone 4-for-30 at the plate and is having trouble turning his neck to the left and seeing the pitcher in the batter's box. 

Marte was pinch hit for in the top of the sixth and did not come back out for the bottom half of the inning. Mark Canha came in to replace him and Jeff McNeil moved from left to right field. 

The Mets can ill afford to lose Marte for an extended period of time, as he is a fixture at the top of their lineup out of the No. 2 hole. 

Marte is hopeful that he can be in the lineup on Thursday, but he said it will depend on how he feels when he wakes up.

Marte underwent double groin surgery in the offseason. He missed a majority of games last September due to a fractured middle finger. 

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