Marte set to return from PED suspension

Pittsburgh outfielder Starling Marte insists he isn’t sure exactly how the illegal steroid that cost him an 80-game suspension got into his system. Set to return Tuesday night, he stressed he did not inject himself with Nandrolone but understands he was “careless” while spending last offseason in his native Dominican Republic.

“That’s something I regret, not being careful enough,” Marte said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez on Monday.

The absence of Marte, 28, a two-time Gold Glove winner, forced manager Clint Hurdle to return Andrew McCutchen to center field, where McCutchen will stay when Marte returns. Marte was hitting .241 with two homers and seven RBIs in 13 games when he was penalized.

Protest denied: Boston manager John Farrell says MLB has denied his team’s protest over a bizarre play on the bases Saturday involving the Yankees’ Matt Holliday.

The Red Sox wanted an interference call in the 11th inning of a game they lost 4-1 in 16 innings. Holliday retreated toward first base after being forced out at second on Jacoby Ellsbury’s grounder, sliding back into the bag as the throw came to first baseman Mitch Moreland.

The throw hit Ellsbury and bounced into foul territory. Ellsbury was allowed to stay at first, and didn’t end up scoring.

Yankees’ surgeries: Pitcher Michael Pineda will have surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, the team said, putting him out of action probably until at least late next year . ... First baseman Greg Bird will have ankle surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss six more weeks. He has been on the disabled list since May 2 with an ankle bone bruise.