Nick Martinez to start Game 3 against Yankees

Philadelphia fans will be eternally grateful for Martinez’s last-day letdown. The All-Star allowed four runs for just the fifth time this season and did so in his shortest start of the year. He ends the regular season 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in a career-high 180 innings. Next up for him figures to be a Game 2 start against the Red Sox or Yankees.

Martinez allowed two runs or fewer for the 21st time in his 30 starts this season. He might log a few more innings in Sunday’s season finale against the Phillies in order to keep him sharp for a likely Game 2 ALDS start.

Apart from two solo home runs, Martinez was effective yet again here. Both Tommy White and Henry Bolte took him deep in the second inning, but the Athletics didn’t have many scoring chances besides those long balls. At the same time, he only forced four total swings-and-misses as he relied on his sinker a bit more than usual and the Rays yanked him after just five innings and 72 pitches. That certainly hurts in quality start leagues and Martinez is set to close the season with a potentially scary two-start week against the Yankees and Phillies next week with both games coming on the road.

He allowed just two hits and walked none while striking out three. Martinez was chased in the top of the seventh, with Cam Booser coming on to keep one of Martinez’s two base runners allowed all game off the board against Matt Olsen. Martinez will likely continue to be managed a bit (he threw just 68 pitches) down the stretch and the Rays are using a six-man rotation. Still, the chance to take on the A’s next week at home looks to be a golden matchup on paper.

It was smooth sailing for Martinez here through six innings. To that point, he’d allowed just four hits, one walk, and one run. Yet, the Rays decided to try and push him through the seventh despite already being at 79 pitches when he’s only averaged around 84 per start this season. He let two runners on, was yanked, and then reliever Garrett Cleavinger gave up a grand slam that let the Rangers right back in this game. Yet, the Rays narrowly escaped and Martinez earned his 14th win, tied for fifth-most in the league to go along with a gorgeous 3.04 ERA. He’s scheduled to face the Braves on the road next time out.

Martinez held the Padres scoreless through two innings before a pair of hits put a run on the board for San Diego in the third. He’d toss two more scoreless frames, then gave up a two-run homer to Ty France in the sixth. The 36-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 91/22 K/BB ratio across 153 2/3 innings. He’ll take on the Rangers in Texas on Thursday.

Martinez threw 86 pitches while striking out four, lowering his ERA to 2.93. It was a bounce-back following his worst start of the season earlier this week. The performance was much-needed for the Rays, who entered the day having lost seven of nine and ceding some of their lead to the Yankees in the AL East. Martinez’s season-long ERA has been built mostly on a dominant stretch in April and May, but he’s still capable of outings like this and remains a near must-start in fantasy. He’s scheduled to pitch at home against the Padres next time out.

Martinez gave up nine hits, walked two and struck out five. He fell to 12-4 with the loss. Martinez entered play Tuesday with a 2.74 ERA despite a 4.54 xFIP. He’s out-pitched his xFIP for most of his career, but not by that much. Martinez now has a 3.05 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Orioles on the road on Sunday.

Martinez held the A’s scoreless through three innings until Lawrence Butler took him deep for a two-run blast in the fourth. He started the ninth to complete one of the more rare occurrences in baseball, a complete game by a Rays pitcher. He nearly couldn’t get it done, as the A’s brought two runs in on three straight hits. But Martinez settled in for the final out to end the game. The 36-year-old right-hander will take a 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 78/20 K/BB ratio across 138 innings into a start against the Orioles in Tampa Bay on Monday.

Even Coors Field was no match for Martinez’s sometimes shocking ability to keep runs off the board. In this game he didn’t force many whiffs, the Rockies had seven hard-hit balls, and put constant traffic on the bases. It amounted to nothing though as Martinez had his 16th start this season where he’s allowed two or fewer runs while completing at least five innings. His changeup and sinker forced enough timely ground balls and he did well to not allow a free pass despite only throwing a first-pitch strike to 12 of the 22 batters faced. His 2.65 ERA is fourth-lowest in the American League as his highly effective season rolls on. Next up will be another tall task as Martinez is scheduled to face the Athletics in hitter-friendly Sacramento.