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Rays' Nick Martinez: Rough Grapefruit League showing
Rotowire
Martinez finished Grapefruit League play with a 14.49 ERA and 7:6 K:BB over 13.2 innings.
Martinez surrendered a whopping 29 hits (including five home runs) in his four spring training starts. It will not prevent him from occupying a spot in the Rays' rotation -- he's already been announced as the starter for Saturday's game in St. Louis -- and Martinez should have some leash given his $13 million salary. Fantasy managers will probably want to steer clear of starting Martinez for the time being, however.
The Rays signed Martinez to a one-year, $13 million contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Martinez will turn 36 years old later this summer and pitched in 40 games for the Reds last season, making 26 starts. He posted a 4.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 116:42 K:BB across a career-high 165.2 innings. Capable of starting or working out of the bullpen, Martinez is expected to be part of the Rays' rotation, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Martinez retired the lone batter he faced in relief and collected his second hold of the season in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals.
Martinez had made four straight appearances as a starter from Aug. 9 through Aug. 26, but his last two outings have come out of the bullpen. Though the Reds scratched Nick Lodolo (illness) ahead of Tuesday's 12-9 loss to the Blue Jays, Martinez wasn't called upon for a spot start, as Cincinnati instead had Scott Barlow open the contest before he was followed by five other relievers. Cincinnati could consider moving Martinez back into the rotation if Lodolo ends up requiring a stint on the injured list, though the expectation at this time is that Lodolo will be ready to go the next time the Reds need a fifth starter.
Martinez (10-10) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Dodgers.
In what was likely the last chance to maintain a rotation spot, Martinez didn't put forth a good performance in a tough matchup. He faded in the sixth inning and took his first loss since July 8 versus the Marlins. He's had mixed results in August, allowing 14 runs (13 earned) over 23.1 innings across five appearances (four starts). Martinez is at a 4.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 108:36 K:BB through 150.1 innings over 29 outings (26 starts) this year. He'll likely cede his spot in the rotation to Nick Lodolo (finger), who is expected to return from the injured list to start Wednesday's series finale in Los Angeles.
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