Nick

Martinez

Like most mutual options, this wasn’t designed to be exercised. Martinez will get a $4 million buyout and return to free agency after a stellar 2026 that saw him go 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA and make his first All-Star team.

The 36-year-old hurler racked up five strikeouts on the night and didn’t walk a batter. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning as Christian Yelich smacked an RBI triple and scored on an RBI single off the bat of William Contreras. After that, Martinez settled in nicely and kept the Brewers off the board for the next four innings. He got 10 swings and misses on 73 pitches on the night — four on his changeup — while posting a CSW of 27 percent. He’ll be ready to take the ball again in Game 4 of 5 depending on how the series progresses.

The 36-year-old right-hander was brilliant his last time out, allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in a victory over the Guardians in Game 4 of the ALCS. It will be the first time in his career that Martinez has pitched in a World Series contest. Historically, the Brewers haven’t had a great deal of success against him, though William Contreras is 5-for-18 (.278) with a pair of homers and a double. He’ll be opposed by Brewers’ ace Jacob Misiorowski with the entire baseball world watching on Friday night.

Martinez gave up his only run in the first inning when he allowed an RBI single in the first to Chase DeLauter. He did not all another hit, and while he struck out only three, he was in control from the second inning on in an exceptional outing for the 36-year-old veteran. Martinez threw 79 pitches in the contest, so while he certainly won’t be available in Game 5, he could be an option in Tampa Bay out of the bullpen for Games 6 and 7.

The Rays had an opportunity to change things up if they wanted to after Friday’s rain out, but they’ll stick with Martinez as they look to even up the series at two games apiece on Saturday. The Guardians will stick with their plan as well, giving the ball to Shawn Armstrong as an opener.

Major League Baseball tried to wait this one out, but the forecast wasn’t improving and the outlook looked too bleak to push it any longer. Game 4 will now be played on Saturday at 8:00 PM EST, while Game 5 will be on Sunday afternoon at 5:00 PM EST. Expect Friday’s scheduled starters — Nick Martinez for the Rays and Shawn Armstrong (as an opener) for the Guardians — to get the ball on Saturday.

The two teams remain in contact with Major League Baseball and are hopeful that they’ll be able to get the game in. Otherwise, it could lead to major changes to the rest of the postseason schedule. It sounds like they’ll do everything possible to play baseball on Friday night, just anticipate a long and rain-soaked evening at the most critical time of the season.

Martinez left the contest after taking a 96.6-mph line drive off his back that resulted in a two-out single in the fourth inning. He opened the contest with a pair of scoreless frames before the Yankees managed to push across a pair of runs. It was an abbreviated outing, but it was enough to give Tampa Bay’s bullpen a chance to shut down New York for the final couple innings. He should be fine to take the ball at some point during the ALCS against either the White Sox or Guardians.

Martinez will be making his first career postseason start in Yankee Stadium after making eight relief appearances since 2022. The 36-year-old veteran was a bit of an unexpected revelation in his Rays debut, posting a career-best 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109/26 K/BB ratio across 180 innings over 31 regular-season starts.

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.