Nick

Martinez

Martinez gave up some hard contact today, including a homer to Eli White, but it was the softer stuff that did him in; the Braves had three hits on nine hard-hit balls and went 7-for-11 on non-hard-hit balls. Atlanta’s four-run second inning started with Mike Yastrzemski perfectly placing a popup down the left field line for a double in between the left fielder and third baseman. The poor showing takes Martinez’s spring ERA to 9.90, but he’s throwing fine and he should have an easier time once the Rays get back into the Trop.

Matt Olson crushed a homer off him, but Martinez allowed no other hits today. He’s in line to open up as the Rays’ fifth starter, and he offers some fantasy potential with Tropicana Field and the strong Rays defense both working in his favor.

Martinez was signed two weeks ago to fill a spot in the Rays’ rotation, but he didn’t look great today. He posted just a 17 percent whiff rate while allowing four hard-hit balls in three innings. He was able to pound the strike zone and get ahead in the count, but he wasn’t fooling Tigers hitters. He still seems locked into a starting spot over one or both of Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour.

The Rays definitely aren’t giving Martinez that kind of money to pitch out of the pen, so assuming that everyone stays healthy, there won’t be any room in the rotation for Joe Boyle or Ian Seymour on Opening Day. Of course, it’d hardly be a surprise if someone went down. Martinez might have some fantasy potential pitching in a situation as good as Tampa Bay’s (now that the team is returning to the Trop). He had a 4.45 ERA for the Reds last season, but he should improve on that and make a contribution in WHIP.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times notes that it’s a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season. Martinez, 35, made 40 appearances (26 starts) for the Reds in 2025, compiling a 4.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 116/42 K/BB ratio over 165 2/3 innings. While he has had success in a swingman role in the past, the expectation is that Martinez will be joining the Rays’ rotation.

The Tigers seem intent on adding at least one more starting pitcher to their rotation mix before the 2026 season begins, but they appear to be shopping in the bargain bin. Petzold also notes that the Tigers have been linked to Chris Bassitt and Jose Quintana as well. The market has been remarkably slow to develop for Martinez and other mid-tier starting pitchers so far this winter.

A walk and a double brought a run in for the Dodgers in the first inning. Martinez gave up one more run in the fourth on two hits and a sacrifice fly. Will Smith later took him deep for a solo homer to lead off the sixth. Martinez would leave with one out and one runner on at 104 pitches. He struck out three. The 35-year-old right-hander holds a 4.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 108/36 K/BB ratio across 150 1/3 innings. He’s tentatively lined up to start against the Blue Jays in Cincinnati on Monday, but the imminent return of Nick Lodolo (finger) from the injured list could push Martinez back into the bullpen.

Yoán Moncada’s drive to left-center in the fourth would have been a double in most parks, but it cleared the wall in Anaheim, accounting for the lone run. Martinez went on to strike out seven before exiting a 1-1 game, keeping his record at 10-9 with a 4.59 ERA. He’ll face the Dodgers next.

Martinez gave up nine hits, walked none and struck out one. The 35-year-old right-hander broke a streak of eight consecutive starts with at least five innings pitched. Martinez has a 4.73 ERA and 98/33 K/BB ratio in 139 innings this year. He’s lined up to face the Angels on the road next week.

Martinez got through two scoreless innings before two hits and a sacrifice fly put the Pirates on the board with a run in the third. He settled in four more scoreless frames, giving up just the one run over seven while striking out four batters. The 35-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 4.49 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 97/33 K/BB ratio across 136 1/3 innings. Martinez would line up for a start against the Brewers in Cincinnati next weekend, though he could return to the bullpen with Hunter Greene set to return soon.