In a blow to the New York Mets, starting right fielder Starling Marte will be out of action until at least late July due to a knee injury. Medical tests on Marte's knee revealed a bone bruise, leading the team to place him on the 10-day injured list retroactively from Sunday. To fill the void, the Mets have called up outfielder Ben Gamel.

Marte, who has been plagued by health issues throughout this month, initially experienced discomfort in his right knee on June 5 and sat out a game against the Nationals. Despite resting twice more in the weeks that followed, the 35-year-old outfielder was forced to exit Saturday's game against the Cubs in the second inning. Following an examination on Monday, it was confirmed that Marte has a bone bruise.

According to manager Carlos Mendoza, Marte will not be participating in any baseball activities for at least two weeks and will require a minimum of four weeks to recover. His anticipated return date is July 3, but the Mets will have to rely on other players to fill the void until then.

This marks Marte's eighth trip to the injured list since 2016, highlighting his ongoing struggles with injuries. Despite his time on the sidelines, Marte has been productive at the plate this season, boasting a batting average of .278, an on-base percentage of .328, and a slugging percentage of .416 in 66 games. However, his defensive metrics have been less favorable.

In the absence of Marte, the Mets have brought up Ben Gamel from the minors to provide outfield depth. The 32-year-old veteran joined the Mets on a Minor League deal earlier this year and was on a hot streak at Triple-A Syracuse prior to his call-up, hitting 10-for-26 with a home run and two doubles over seven games.

As the Mets face an extended period without one of their key players, the team will look to other members of the roster, such as Gamel, to step up and contribute in Marte's absence.