Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Continuing rehab at Triple-A
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Martinez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw an inning for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday as part of his rehab assignment, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Martinez is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation and is nearing a return. A report Sunday indicated he'd rejoin the team either for the start of a series against the Dodgers on Monday or for a weekend set against St. Louis beginning Friday. With Martinez throwing an inning for Reno on Tuesday, it's expected he'll rejoin the big-league club ahead of its series against the Cardinals.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Return date nearing
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Martinez (shoulder) could be activated from the injured list to begin the Diamondbacks series against the Dodgers on Monday, or the team could wait until its series against the Cardinals on Friday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Martinez made his first rehab appearance in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday. The next step will either be activation or having his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Reno. Regardless of his exact return date, Martinez should be available for the Diamondbacks within the next week.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Will pitch in ACL game Saturday
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Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo said Friday that Martinez (shoulder) will throw in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Martinez is in the final stages of his recovery from right shoulder inflammation, which caused him to be placed on the 15-day injured list in early May. He progressed to facing live batters earlier this week, and he'll take the next step in his rehab program by throwing in an ACL game Saturday. Martinez could return to the big club shortly after Saturday's outing depending on how his shoulder responds.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Set for live BP
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Martinez (shoulder) will throw to live hitters Wednesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Martinez felt strong after completing a bullpen session Sunday, and it's another positive sign that he's progressing to throwing against hitters Wednesday. The Diamondbacks haven't indicated whether the 23-year-old will require a minor-league rehab assignment, as he'll be eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list Friday after going down with shoulder inflammation at the beginning of the month. Arizona will presumably wait and see how Martinez comes out of the live session Wednesday before deciding on his next step.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Bullpen session goes well
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Martinez (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Martinez took the mound for the first time since he was placed on the injured list May 1 due to right shoulder inflammation, or a case of "dead arm," as manager Torey Lovullo had described it. The report indicates that Martinez's side session went "real well," and that the reliever felt good. Martinez is first eligible for activation Friday, but it's unclear if he'll be cleared to return for this weekend's series versus the Rockies, or if he'll head out on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being reinstated.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Beginning mound work Sunday
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Martinez (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that the ball has been "sizzling" out of Martinez's hand during his throwing program, which is a sign that the 23-year-old is feeling good after landing on the injured list May 1 with shoulder inflammation. Assuming all goes well during his bullpen session, Martinez may still be on pace to return when eligible Friday.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Set to begin throwing program
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Martinez (shoulder) will begin throwing later this week after being placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Martinez was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation Thursday, but he received promising imaging results Saturday, which didn't show any structural damage. The relief pitcher is first eligible to return to action May 16, but it's far too early to place a timeline on when he'll be able to make his return to the mound. Once Martinez picks a ball up later this week, there will be a better understanding of where he's at physically.
Martinez underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Saturday that showed no structural damage, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Martinez experienced a drop in velocity during his past two appearances and was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to right shoulder inflammation. The righty received good news Saturday, however, and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Martinez is eligible to be activated from the IL on May 16, though it's not yet clear if he'll be ready to resume pitching in games at that point.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Velo concerns could prompt IL stint
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Martinez is scheduled to get imaging on his right shoulder after displaying diminished velocity during his relief appearance in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Mets, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "We're still trying to sift through it ourselves," Lovullo said of Martinez. "We just wanted to get the feeling from him as to how he's doing. It's clear that the velo is down and the stuff is not the same. We're still evaluating."
Martinez entered the game in the bottom of the ninth with the Diamondbacks up 4-1, but he was removed after 14 pitches (just five strikes). He failed to record an out in the win, as he allowed a leadoff home run and then walked the next two batters before Ryan Thompson stepped in to put out the fire and clinch the save. According to Gilbert, Martinez first experienced some shoulder fatigue coming out of his previous appearance Sunday, but he wasn't sent in for imaging despite his two-seamer being about three ticks down from his season average. His velocity then dropped down a few more ticks Wednesday to 93.5 miles per hour, and that decline coupled with the rough performance has left the Diamondbacks more open to the idea that he'll require a stint on the injured list. The Diamondbacks will wait for Martinez to be evaluated before making any decisions on his status.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Yields run but earns save
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Martinez allowed a run on one hit and two walks in one inning during Sunday's win over Atlanta. He earned a save and did not record a strikeout.
Martinez entered a 6-3 game and was not very effective. On top of the two walks, he also hit a batter. A double play before Marcell Ozuna's RBI double helped limit the damage to just one run. Martinez entered the game with a clean 0.00 ERA through nine innings. He didn't walk a batter in his first seven appearances but has now issued four free passes over his last 3.1 innings. Martinez was recently dealing with some shoulder fatigue but is the current favorite for saves with A.J. Puk (elbow) on the IL, though Shelby Miller may also be in the mix.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Fires clean ninth inning in return
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Martinez (shoulder) returned to the mound in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Rays, striking out one during a clean ninth inning.
While it wasn't a save situation in a 5-5 game, fantasy managers should still be pleased to see the hard-throwing right-hander look sharp in his return to action. It was Martinez's first appearance since last Thursday due to right shoulder fatigue, and he should be ready to solely reclaim the closer's role for the time being in the absence of A.J. Puk (elbow). Through his first eight innings of the season, Martinez has converted both of his save opportunities while allowing just three hits, one walk and no runs en route to producing a pristine 11:1 K:BB.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Was unavailable due to fatigue
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Martinez was unavailable to pitch in Sunday's extra-innings win over the Cubs due to "fatigue" and a recent heavy workload, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Martinez hadn't pitched since Thursday and threw only 10 pitches in that appearance, but trainers told Lovullo the reliever could use another day of rest Sunday. The Diamondbacks took the lead in the top of the 10th inning that day before Shelby Miller gave up the tying run in the bottom of the frame in his second inning of work. After Arizona grabbed the lead again with a run in the top of the 11th, Drey Jameson came on to secure his second career save. Martinez did not undergo any imaging and presumably will be available for Tuesday's series opener against the Rays. With A.J. Puk (elbow) out and Kevin Ginkel (shoulder) also still working his way back, Martinez is the clear favorite for saves in Arizona's bullpen right now.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Stepping in as full-time closer
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Martinez is expected to be the Diamondbacks' primary closer after the team placed A.J. Puk (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Saturday.
Puk will undergo an MRI when the team returns to Arizona following its road series against the Cubs. Martinez, who had been sharing closing duties with Puk, should become the main option in the ninth inning but could cede some save opportunities once Kevin Ginkel (shoulder) is activated. Martinez has not allowed a run while striking out 10 and walking one over seven innings.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Finishes off Miami
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Martinez worked a scoreless inning, retiring all three batters he faced in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Marlins.
With the Diamondbacks holding a 4-1 lead entering the eighth inning, manager Torey Lovullo had the late-game crew -- Martinez and A.J. Puk -- warming in the bullpen. Arizona then scored twice in the top half of the inning, increasing the lead to beyond what would qualify as a save. Lovullo stuck to the plan and had Puk work the bottom of the eighth with left-handers due up, then brought in Martinez to finish up. The latter needed just eight pitches to seal the win, making his seventh straight scoreless appearance to start the season.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Works smooth eighth inning
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Martinez struck out two over one inning to earn a hold in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Brewers.
Arizona led 3-2 when the right-handed Martinez opened the eighth inning against three scheduled righty hitters. He retired the side in order, including a lefty pinch hitter. That held the lead for lefty A.J. Puk heading into the ninth, when the Brewers had lefties scheduled. The late-game bullpen deployment is working without manager Torey Lovullo having to name one closer. Martinez has yet to allow a run or a walk while striking out nine over 5.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Notches second save
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Martinez struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Orioles.
A.J. Puk collected the hold in the eighth before turning things over to Martinez, who plunked Tyler O'Neill with a pitch but was otherwise untouchable. Martinez has a 0.00 ERA and 7:0 K:BB through 4.2 innings while sharing closing duties with Puk.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Sharing ninth-inning work with Puk
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Martinez earned the save after throwing a scoreless ninth inning on one hit Friday against the Nationals. He struck out one.
It was the first save of the season for Martinez, who is now up to 3.2 scoreless frames to open the campaign. The hard-throwing right-hander has split time between the eighth and ninth innings over his four appearances, so it appears manager Torey Lovullo prefers to mix and match his closers based on the matchups. The Arizona closing situation has been something close to an even split for ninth-inning work thus far, with A.J. Puk seeing similar usage to Martinez across his four appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Impressive hold in win
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Martinez threw a scoreless and hitless eighth inning while striking out three to earn a hold in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Yankees.
It was a dominant display by the right-handed Martinez, who came on the face the heart of New York's order, which included two righty hitters among three scheduled batters . He fanned Aaron Judge with a splitter and then punched out Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe on 101-mph fastballs. The left-handed A.J. Puk followed, conveniently with three lefties due up, to convert Arizona's first save opportunity of the season. While that sequence may suggest Puk is the closer, manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named one, and his late-game deployment was all about matchups, particularly having Martinez pitch to Judge. Martinez has allowed two hits and struck out five over 2.2 scoreless innings (three appearances) so far this season.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Makes season debut
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Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Cubs.
Martinez made his season debut, entering the top of the ninth inning with Arizona down 4-1. None of the four balls in play he allowed left the infield, and only a fielding error by Martinez extended what could have been a 1-2-3 frame. The right-hander inked a five-year extension late in spring training and is expected to pitch in high-leverage situations, potentially splitting closing duties with A.J. Puk.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Touched for two runs
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Martinez allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one over one inning in Thursday's spring game against the Athletics.
Martinez worked the seventh inning following other closer candidates Kevin Ginkel (fifth inning) and A.J. Puk (sixth). Manager Torey Lovullo indicated Wednesday that he's still mulling the decision as to which of the three will be his primary option in the ninth inning when the games begin to count. This was the second time in eight Cactus League appearances that Martinez has allowed runs, upping his spring ERA to 6.43. Although the small samples mean little, that is much higher than the ERAs of Ginkel (1.50) and Puk (1.29).
