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• Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Enters in seventh inning

  09/26/2024 • By RotoWire

  Martinez allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Giants. The Diamondbacks were up, 5-1, when manager Torey Lovullo had Martinez enter the contest to open the seventh inning. He allowed the first two batters to reach but managed to wriggle out of danger. The right-hander was sent out to start the eighth and was removed after a double and single made it a 5-2 game. It's unclear why Lovullo had his closer enter what would normally be a low-leverage spot. Martinez has pitched at regular intervals over the past week, so it wasn't an issue of rust. Perhaps it was due to Lovullo's desire to end the team's three-game losing skid.

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• Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Recovers after leadoff homer

  08/25/2024 • By RotoWire

  Martinez picked up the save Sunday against Boston, allowing a solo home run and no walks with one strikeout during the ninth inning. Martinez inherited a three-run lead in the ninth frame and offered up a solo home run to Tyler O'Neill to start the inning. Martinez was able to shake off the long ball and retired Masataka Yoshida, Connor Wong and Romy Gonzalez in order to secure his sixth save of the season. Martinez emerged as the Diamondbacks' closer in August, and he's 6-for-6 in save opportunities this month. While manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that he wants to get Paul Sewald back to being a closer, the team opted for Martinez in the ninth Sunday. The 22-year-old has been outstanding this season, posting a 2.02 ERA in 58 innings, and, for now, is the favorite to see save opportunities.

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• Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Goes 1.2 frames for fifth save

  08/22/2024 • By RotoWire

  Martinez earned a save against the Marlins on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 1.2 innings. Martinez was called upon in the eighth inning with the Diamondbacks clinging to a one-run lead and the tying run on second base with one out. He struck out Xavier Edwards and got Geraldo Perdomo to fly out to escape the threat, then returned in the bottom of the ninth after Arizona put up two runs in the top half of the frame. Martinez made things interesting by surrendering a run and allowing the tying run to get to second base on a two-out wild pitch, but the rookie closer ultimately slammed the door with a game-ending strikeout. He's notched a save on consecutive days for the first time in his big-league career and remains the team's top option for save chances with Paul Sewald at least temporarily moved out of the closer role.

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• Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Earns fourth save

  08/21/2024 • By RotoWire

  Martinez earned the save Tuesday against the Marlins, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning. Martinez was called upon to protect a 3-1 lead in the ninth frame and did so on just seven pitches. He suffered losses in each of his past two appearances but has converted all four of his save chances in August. On the season, the 23-year-old owns a stellar 1.79 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 67:29 K:BB across 55.1 innings.

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• Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Charged with loss

  08/19/2024 • By RotoWire

  Martinez (5-4) was tagged with Sunday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to Tampa Bay. He allowed one unearned run on one hit, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out two over 1.1 innings. Martinez, who had saves in three of his previous five appearances, was bypassed in the bottom of the 10th with Arizona up by a run. Instead, manager Torey Lovullo rolled with Kevin Ginkel, who was the pitcher of record and allowed the Rays to tie the game. Martinez pitched the the next two frames, wriggling out of a bases-loaded jam in the 11th before ceding the winning run in the 12th. This was the second consecutive appearance in which Martinez was charged with a walk-off loss.

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