Starling Marte’s knee latest Mets injury concern after rare start in field

Starling Marte had three more hits Sunday, but suffered an injury scare to his troublesome right knee in the bottom of the ninth that could sideline him. 

Carlos Mendoza said Marte’s knee “flared up” and he was clearly in discomfort after taking a pitch during an at-bat against Devin Williams in a 6-4 loss to the Yankees at Citi Field. 

He stayed in the game after a visit from the training staff, but only jogged slowly to first base when he grounded out to third for the second out of the inning. 

Marte was going for tests Sunday night. 

The 36-year-old, whose season ended almost exactly a year ago due to a right knee injury, said he was “not really” worried about the knee’s status. 

But when asked if he thought he’d be able to stay off the IL, Marte said, “I don’t know yet.” 

After the knee limited Marte to 94 games last season, he was also hobbled during spring training. 

But he’d come on over his previous 29 games heading into Sunday, with an OPS of .832 over that stretch and followed it up with a third straight multihit game. 

Marte also started in the outfield for just the fifth time this season — and first time since June 1 — on Sunday, when he was in left, with Brandon Nimmo as the DH. 

Marte said he felt good on defense and it wasn’t until that final at-bat — after he’d singled three times and stolen a base (also his first since June 1) — that he felt discomfort. 

Mostly limited to DH duties this season, Marte has been used as a right-handed leadoff hitter, with Francisco Lindor bumped down to the No. 2 spot in the lineup, and has hit well there. 

The Mets figured to have some roster decisions to make before the All-Star break, with Jesse Winker — sidelined for over two months with an oblique strain — on a rehab assignment and likely due to return to the lineup this week. 

Marte is in the final year of a four-year, $78 million deal. 

After the Mets failed to off-load Marte in the offseason, he initially had difficulty adjusting to a role in which he didn’t play every day. 

His production has improved, and with the Mets dealing with injuries, Marte’s resurgence has been a welcome one, but it may be halted if his knee doesn’t respond well.