J. D. Martinez
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2012Crushers931263200260000.1940.2650.258
2013Crushers37100000310000.0000.3000.000
2014Vigilantes482082349248047500010.2360.2600.332
2015Vigilantes120448561145723121231204000.2540.2940.451
2016Vigilantes158612911519634139541641030.2470.3090.497
2017Vigilantes119426651105732122521081020.2580.3420.493
2018Vigilantes11642676110822104252902000.2580.3430.603
2019Vigilantes123479661238529428361138040.2570.3110.509
2020Vigilantes142563741359736132491280000.2400.3060.478
2021Vigilantes141541491094949016461452040.2010.2680.381
2022Old Geezers148572761478039230471442240.2570.3130.490
2023Crushers84325438437260729712020.2580.3210.403
2023Old Geezers185681615006210000.2860.3550.375
2024Crushers1114508112611328441411370200.2800.3410.633
2025Crushers28100000120000.0000.1110.000
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 27 2025The Rangers offered Martinez a non-guaranteed contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 37-year-old had a .235/.320/.406 slash line with 16 homers in 120 regular-season games with the Mets last season, and he remains unsigned at about the halfway point of 2025 after failing to drum up much interest during the offseason. Martinez continues to work out in Miami as he attempts to keep himself ready, but he doesn't appear particularly close to securing an MLB contract.
Mar 6 2025The Yankees did reach out to Martinez, but the two sides don't seem close to a deal, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: At least for now, New York appears content to fill the DH spot internally in the absence of Giancarlo Stanton, who is facing an uncertain timetable for his return to action following a second round of PRP injections in his elbows. That leaves Martinez still looking for a job with less than three weeks to go until Opening Day. Martinez's numbers cratered last season and he is now 37 years old, but he was an All-Star as recently as 2023 when he hit 33 homers with 103 RBI in 113 regular-season games for the Dodgers.
Oct 16 2024Martinez will start at designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jesse Winker was in the DH slot in each of the first two games of the series, but Martinez will get a shot Wednesday against right-hander Walker Buehler. It's Martinez's first start since Game 4 of the NLDS and his fourth start in 10 games this postseason for the Mets.
Oct 15 2024Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Martinez will likely be in the lineup Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jesse Winker started at designated hitter in each of the first two games of the series, going 2-for-2 with a 2:2 K:BB. The Dodgers are slated to start another right-hander, Walker Buehler, in Game 3, but it sounds like Martinez will receive his first start of the series. The veteran is 4-for-14 with three RBI and a 4:2 K:BB so far this postseason.
Oct 6 2024Martinez is starting at DH and batting sixth in Sunday's Game 2 of the NLDS versus Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez began Game 1 on the bench but came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and delivered an RBI single. Jesse Winker was the starter at DH in that contest, and he'll move to the bench to begin the second game of the series. Sunday will mark Martinez's second start at DH for the Mets in the postseason, while Winker has started in that role three times.
Oct 2 2024Martinez will start at designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Brewers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez yielded to Jesse Winker at designated hitter in Game 1, although he came off the bench to deliver a two-run single. The 37-year-old put up just a .368 OPS in September for the Mets.
Oct 1 2024Martinez is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez saw his playing time cut down the stretch of the regular season as he struggled to a .368 OPS in September. Jesse Winker had similar struggles in the final month but will get a shot at designated hitter in Game 1 versus righty Freddy Peralta.
Sep 22 2024Martinez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is in the midst of a career-worst stretch at the plate, having gone 0-for-his-last-30, which is also the longest slump by a Mets hitter this season. He'll be on the bench for a second straight game, and Saturday's absence came against an opposing lefty starter. The 37-year-old may have played his way out of the regular lineup.
Sep 21 2024Martinez isn't in the Mets' lineup for Saturday's game versus the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will get a chance to collect himself Saturday after going 0-for-29 over his last eight games. Starling Marte will replace him as New York's DH, allowing Tyrone Taylor to start in right field while batting sixth.
Sep 18 2024Martinez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the midst of a six-game hitless stretch, Martinez will grab a seat for the series finale. Starling Marte will occupy the designated-hitter spot for the Mets while Tyrone Taylor plays right field.
Sep 13 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting at DH in three consecutive games, Martinez will give way to Jesse Winker on Friday. Martinez is 3-for-21 (.143) with four RBI in September.
Sep 8 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez started the past two games after returning from the paternity list, and he'll receive a day off after going 2-for-8 with a double, three RBI and three strikeouts. Jesse Winker will shift to designated hitter while Harrison Bader picks up a start in the outfield.
Sep 5 2024The Mets activated Martinez from the paternity list Thursday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez missed the series against the Red Sox while tending to more important matters but will be back for his club's weekend series versus the Reds. DJ Stewart was optioned in a corresponding move.
Sep 2 2024The Mets placed Martinez on the paternity list Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will be allowed to spend up to three days away from the Mets as he spends time with his expanding family. To fill his spot on the active roster, DJ Stewart was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
Aug 31 2024Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger took Jonathan Cannon deep in the third inning, Martinez's 16th homer of the year and fourth in his last 10 games. He's slashing .256/.275/.590 over that 10-game stretch with a 1:17 BB:K, numbers that reflect his 2024 struggles, but the 37-year-old is still within striking distance of his ninth career 20-homer campaign.
Aug 26 2024Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went deep off Martin Perez in the fourth for the first run of the game. Three of his last four hits over the last six games have left the yard. Martinez now has 61 RBI in his last 89 games, which is third in the National League over that span behind Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani. For the year, Martinez is slashing .251/.334/.440 with 15 homers, 62 RBI, 39 runs and a 41:118 BB:K in 407 plate appearances.
Aug 22 2024Martinez isn't in the Mets' lineup for Thursday's game versus San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will take a seat for Thursday's series opener after going 2-for-12 with two home runs and six RBI during New York's previous series against the Orioles. His absence will allow Jesse Winker to serve as the Mets' designated hitter while batting fifth.
Aug 21 2024Martinez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger got hold of a Burch Smith fastball in the eighth inning and drove it over the fence in right-center field, bringing the Mets to within two runs, but it was as close as they got in an eventual 9-5 defeat. Martinez has gone yard in back-to-back games, giving him 14 homers on the year, but through 17 games in August he's slashing just .211/.318/.439 as the 37-year-old continues to struggle to provide consistent offense.
Aug 19 2024Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Monday's 4-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez got the Mets on the board in the first inning, plating Mark Vientos with a two-run home run off lefty Trevor Rogers. In 392 plate appearances, Martinez is slashing .256/.343/.438 with 57 RBI and 37 runs. He has only one multi-hit game in his last 12 starts.
Aug 18 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has a .208/.333/.354 slash line through 14 games in August and will sit Sunday after starting the previous nine contests. Jesse Winker will serve as the designated hitter while Starling Marte (knee) is in right field in his return from the injured list.
Aug 14 2024Martinez (elbow) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's contest against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was lifted from Tuesday's game after being struck on the left elbow by a pitch, but he's back in there without having to miss any starts. The 36-year-old's production has fallen off since the start of July, as he's slashed just .221/.328/.354 across 33 contests.
Aug 13 2024Martinez was removed from Tuesday's game against the Athletics after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez took a 100-mph fastball off his left elbow during the second inning and remained in the game to run the bases, eventually coming around to score on a Jose Iglesias single. However, he was pinch hit for by Mark Vientos in the third frame. Martinez was able to escape the incident with only a bruise, so he shouldn't need to miss much time -- if any at all.
Aug 7 2024Martinez isn't in the Mets' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-10 with five strikeouts over his last three games, Martinez will take a seat Wednesday while Jesse Winker serves as New York's DH and Ben Gamel starts in right field.
Aug 4 2024Martinez went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in Saturday's loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez singled in his first at-bat and later added a grand slam in the top of the seventh to put the Mets on top 4-2. It marked the slugger's second grand slam in his last seven games and he's now collected multiple hits in five of his last 11. Martinez has also driven in at least one run in four of his last five contests.
Jul 28 2024Martinez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will get a breather after striking out in all four of his plate appearances Saturday. Brandon Nimmo will serve as the designated hitter Sunday and bat third against Atlanta right-hander Reynaldo Lopez.
Jul 27 2024Martinez went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Friday's 8-4 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger got the fireworks started with a grand slam off Charlie Morton in the third inning, his 11th home run of the season and one of three Mets long balls in the frame. Martinez snapped an 18-game homer drought with the blast, but his bat has been coming around since the All-Star break -- over his last seven games, he's gone 9-for-29 (.310).
Jul 14 2024Martinez isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup versus Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll begin the final game before the All-Star break on the bench while Pete Alonso gets a day out of the field as the Mets' designated hitter. Martinez went hitless while striking out five times in eight at-bats over the first two games of the series and is batting just .194 with a home run, four RBI and a 37.2 percent strikeout rate across 11 contests in July.
Jul 11 2024Martinez went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs Thursday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez entered Thursday's contest mired in a 4-for-32 (.125) slump over the previous 10 games but reached base four times while collecting just his third three-hit performance of the season. It was also just the second time in 12 games he drove in at least one run. Despite the recent slump, the 36-year-old Martinez continues to provide quality production in his 14th season, posting a .274 average with 10 homers, 15 doubles, 38 RBI and 27 runs over 234 at-bats.
Jul 8 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mets are concluding their four-game series with the Pirates with a Monday contest that begins at 12:35 p.m. ET, so Martinez is on the bench in what looks to be little more than a veteran's maintenance day. Francisco Alvarez will get a day off behind the dish and will occupy Martinez's usual spot in the lineup at designated hitter.
Jul 4 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez returned to action Wednesday after missing one game due to ankle soreness, but he'll head back to the bench for Thursday's 11:05 AM ET start. DJ Stewart will bat fifth as the designated hitter in the series finale at Washington.
Jul 3 2024Martinez (ankle) will be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old was scratched from Tuesday's starting nine due to ankle soreness, which apparently surfaced because he was forced to try out a new pair of cleats. Martinez has since received another shipment of his usual cleats and shouldn't have any issues going forward.
Jul 2 2024Martinez was scratched from the Mets' lineup ahead of Tuesday's game versus Washington due to left ankle soreness, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The severity of Martinez's injury isn't immediately apparent, but it's enough of a nuisance to keep him from playing Tuesday. Luis Torrens will step into the lineup as New York's designated hitter and bat sixth while Martinez rests.
Jul 1 2024Martinez went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and two walks in Monday's 9-7 win against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The New York designated hitter blasted a titanic 420-foot homer off Hunter Harvey in the 10th inning to break the tie. The round tripper was a welcome sight for Martinez, as he entered this contest on a bit of a cold spell, slashing .211/.333/.342 across 47 plate appearances in his previous 10 games with just one homer. The veteran power hitter now sports a .278 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI and 22 runs scored in 209 at-bats overall.
Jun 21 2024Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 11-1 victory over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez opened the scoring with a three-run home run off Shota Imanaga in the first inning, and he then added an RBI single in the fourth. Martinez went 1-for-10 in a quiet series against the Rangers earlier this week but continued a nice June, as he's now hitting .297 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 64 at-bats. On the season, he owns a .287 average with nine homers and 31 RBI in 178 at-bats.
Jun 17 2024Martinez went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran DH was a key part of the Mets' 11-run eruption Sunday, and Martinez enjoyed a huge weekend overall against San Diego -- he went 6-for-9 at the plate with two doubles, two homers, six RBI and nine runs, and he reached base in 10 straight plate appearances during the three-game set. The 36-year-old is slashing .293/.363/.518 on the season with eight home runs and 27 RBI in 44 contests.
Jun 15 2024Martinez went 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs, three total RBI and two walks in Saturday's 5-1 win against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez reached in all five of his plate appearances and registered his first multi-homer game of the season. The veteran slugger has gone deep three times in his past three games and has at least one RBI in six of his past seven contests. Of Martinez's past six hits, five (two doubles and three homers) have gone for extra bases.
Jun 14 2024Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double Thursday in a 3-2 win against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez accounted for both of New York's extra-base hits in the victory, with his first knock being a seventh-inning double that contributed to the team's first run. The veteran slugger's second hit was more dramatic -- he took Miami closer Tanner Scott deep for a two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Martinez's 321st career long ball and the first walk-off home run of his 14-year career. He's gone deep six times through 168 plate appearances this season.
May 31 2024Martinez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old DH came up big for the Mets, breaking a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning by crushing the first pitch he saw from Ryan Thompson to straightaway center field. Martinez is settling into a groove, slashing .279/.323/.508 over his last 15 games with five doubles, three homers and nine RBI, but his 36.9 percent strikeout rate during that time is still worrisome.
May 28 2024Martinez isn't in the Mets' lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a 1-for-4 effort in Game 1, Martinez will get a breather to conclude Tuesday's activities. DJ Stewart will instead get the nod as New York's DH and bat fourth.
May 25 2024Martinez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran DH also struck out three times, as he continues to lock in his timing at the plate following a delayed start to the season. Through 25 games as a Met, Martinez is slashing .289/.326/.456 with three homers and 10 RBI.
May 20 2024Martinez (illness) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Monday's game in Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez sat out Sunday's contest due to flu-like symptoms but is feeling well enough to give it a go in this one. The veteran DH has slashed .315/.359/.466 with two home runs in 21 games to begin his tenure with the Mets.
May 19 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Miami due to flu-like symptoms, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It turns out Martinez is under the weather, as an illness is reportedly sweeping through the Mets' clubhouse. It's uncertain whether he's available off the bench. Brandon Nimmo will serve as the designated hitter against righty Sixto Sanchez.
May 15 2024Martinez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went deep in the eighth inning, launching a 403-foot solo shot off Spencer Turnbull. It was the veteran slugger's second long ball of the campaign, both of which have come over is past five games. Martinez is batting .350 (7-for-20) with four RBI over that stretch.
May 11 2024Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday in a loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Three Atlanta pitchers combined to no-hit New York over 8.2 innings before Martinez slugged a solo shot off Raisel Iglesias to end the bid at history. The long ball was Martinez's first as a Met in his 48th plate appearance. Though his power didn't emerge until Saturday, Martinez has put up a steady .267/.313/.378 slash line through 14 games.
May 5 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Carlos Mendoza will continue the trend of sitting Martinez for the series finale, which is now the case for the third straight series since the veteran slugger made his season debut April 26. DJ Stewart will bat fifth as the designated hitter Sunday.
May 2 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been given one day off in each of his first two series since joining the Mets as the club eases him back into action. That plan could continue for a bit longer before he assumes everyday duties at designated hitter. DJ Stewart will serve as the Mets' DH on Thursday.
Apr 28 2024Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went 3-for-8 with a double, an RBI and five strikeouts in his first two games with the Mets but will take a seat for Sunday's series finale versus St. Louis. DJ Stewart will step in as the designated hitter and bat cleanup.
Apr 27 2024Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also struck out twice, but Martinez made a quick impact in his debut for the Mets, chasing Miles Mikolas from the game in the sixth inning with a run-scoring double. Martinez posted big numbers in only 113 games for the Dodgers last year, slashing .271/.321/.572 with 33 homers and 103 RBI, and once he's shaken off his rust the 36-year-old should be a potent addition to the middle of the New York batting order.
Apr 26 2024Martinez will start at designated hitter and bat fifth in Friday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It will be Martinez's Mets and season debut after he was sent to the minors for a while following a late-March signing. The 36-year-old will be given extra days off in the early going as he gets his feet under him, but Martinez will eventually be the team's everyday DH. He slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs for the Dodgers last season.
Apr 24 2024Martinez (back) is on track to be added to the Mets' 26-man active roster ahead of Friday's game versus the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is slated to play what is expected to be a final game with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. As long as he comes out of it with no issues, he should serve as the Mets' designated hitter Friday. Martinez went to the minors to knock off some rust after signing with the Mets late in spring training and had to take a break from game action briefly due to a minor back problem, but he's healthy now and is nearing his 2024 debut with the big club. According to a Mike Puma of the New York Post, manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that he plans to slot Martinez directly behind cleanup batter Pete Alonso as the Mets' No. 5 hitter once he's activated.
Apr 21 2024Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Martinez (back) could join the big club as soon as Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger is scheduled to play with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could be the final hurdle before being cleared for his Mets debut. Martinez played in two minor-league games in early April before the back issue surfaced, but he's just about MLB ready after receiving an injection and ramping his baseball work back up over the past couple weeks.
Apr 16 2024Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that it's "very unlikely" Martinez (back) will join the team on their upcoming road trip, which begins Friday in Los Angeles and runs through April 24 in San Francisco, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Based on Mendoza's comments, Martinez won't be ready to make his Mets debut until April 26, at the earliest. Martinez injured his back earlier this month while playing for Single-A St. Lucie, with whom he reported to for the start of the season after he wasn't available for spring training due to his late signing. He had been slated to begin swinging a bat Monday and is expected to resume playing in minor-league games later this week.
Apr 15 2024Martinez (back) is expected to begin swinging a bat again Monday, and he should resume his minor-league assignment later this week, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran DH hasn't played for Low-A St. Lucie since last Saturday due to back tightness, and he received an injection Tuesday to speed his recovery. Assuming he gets back into the St. Lucie lineup this week, Martinez could be in line to make his Mets debut before the end of the month.
Apr 9 2024Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Martinez is dealing with tightness in his lower back and received an injection for the injury, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mendoza added that Martinez will be sidelined for up to five days, and he'll continue to ramp up his progress in the minors before joining the team. Martinez played two games at Single-A St. Lucie this past weekend and went 1-for-8 with two walks. He hasn't participated in baseball activities since then due to the back issues.
Apr 7 2024Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Martinez won't participate in baseball activities for two days after reporting "overall body soreness" before he returns to Single-A St. Lucie's lineup Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was looking to join the Mets during the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday, but that's no longer a possibility. The 35-year-old could join the big club for Friday's series opener versus Kansas City in New York, though his season debut may get pushed back further. Martinez's outlook should receive more clarity once he attempts to return to minor-league action.
Apr 4 2024Manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Martinez could join the Mets as soon as next week for their series in Atlanta, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been working out at extended spring training but will be assigned to a minor-league affiliate as soon as Friday. The designated hitter won't be added to the 26-man roster when first eligible Sunday, and it's not a given either that he'll be activated for the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday. The Mets' decision on whether to make Martinez available in Atlanta will probably depend on how he looks and feels during his at-bats in the minors. Whenever he's ready, Martinez will take over as the Mets' everyday designated hitter, pushing DJ Stewart to a bench role.
Mar 28 2024The Mets optioned Martinez to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since Martinez didn't sign with the Mets until last week, he didn't have sufficient time to complete his hitting progression in spring training, so he'll be left off the 26-man active roster ahead of Friday's season opener versus the Brewers. The Mets haven't indicated if Martinez will immediately report to Syracuse for the start of its season Friday, or if he'll continue to see live at-bats at the Mets' spring training facility in Florida. Either way, Martinez will join the Mets and serve as their everyday designated hitter once he spends around 10 days in the minors compiling at-bats, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Mar 23 2024Martinez will spend at least 10 days preparing to join the Mets after the season begins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's unclear whether Martinez's preparation will occur in Triple-A games or at the Mets' spring training facility, but he won't be available to serve as New York's DH until after the second weekend of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that once Martinez is ready to make his Mets debut, he will bat fourth in the lineup behind Pete Alonso, per Tim Healey of Newsday.
Mar 22 2024Martinez could consent to being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse until the Mets decide he's ready to take over as their everyday designated hitter, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Martinez has options remaining, because he has accrued so much service time he would have to consent to being sent down to the minors. It sounds like he would be willing to do that in an effort to get up to speed after missing most (if not all) of spring training. Mark Vientos -- who appears out of a job once Martinez is ready -- could be used as the Mets' DH initially.
Mar 21 2024Martinez signed a one-year deal worth $12 million with the Mets on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mets have reportedly been in talks with Martinez for much of spring training, and he'll now join the team on a short-term deal. He should serve as the team's primary designated hitter, cutting into the playing time of Mark Vientos and potentially Brett Baty. Martinez is entering his age-36 season, but he has maintained a wRC+ of at least 119 in each of the last three campaigns and adds another quality bat to the middle of the Mets' lineup.
Mar 12 2024The Mets are among the teams discussing a contract with Martinez, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Signing Martinez would result in a 110 percent luxury tax penalty for the Mets, but owner Steve Cohen has "given the go-ahead to seriously discuss" signing the designated hitter, per Heyman. Heyman also says the interest is mutual, although the Angels and Marlins appear to still be in the running for Martinez, too. Mark Vientos is currently projected to be the Mets' DH.
Feb 27 2024Martinez was being pursued by the Giants before the club signed Jorge Soler in mid-February, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Giants offered a one-year, $14 million contract, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, but Martinez is apparently looking for closer to $20 million. The 36-year-old slugger's 33 homers with the Dodgers last season was the first time he topped 30 since 2019, but his .271/.321/.572 slash line was also accompanied by a career-worst 31.2 percent strikeout rate.
Sep 29 2023Martinez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-2 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's power binge continues -- he's homered seven times over his last 11 contests to get to 33 long balls for the season. His blast Friday gave the Dodgers some added insurance in the sixth inning. The designated hitter is hitting .400 (16-for-40) during his surge, a stretch that has raised his batting average on the year from .261 to .274 and his OPS from .852 to .906. He's added 103 RBI, 61 runs scored, 27 doubles, a stolen base and two triples through 111 contests.
Sep 28 2023Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 14-5 loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez set an early tone with his first-inning blast, but the Rockies took control of the game in the third inning. This was Martinez's sixth multi-hit effort in his last 10 games, and he's hit six homers with 14 RBI in that span. The designated hitter is up to 32 long balls, 100 RBI, 60 runs scored, one stolen base and a .274/.325/.576 slash line through 110 contests this season.
Sep 26 2023Martinez is out of the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Max Muncy will take a turn in the DH role as Chris Taylor handles third base. Martinez went 1-for-4 with a single and two strikeouts in the opening game of the twin bill at Coors Field.
Sep 23 2023Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and three total RBI in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez opened the scoring with a second-inning homer and added a two-run double a frame later. The designated hitter has been mashing lately with five homers and 12 RBI over his last six games. For the year, he's up to 31 long balls, 98 RBI, 58 runs scored, 25 doubles, a stolen base and a .270/.324/.573 slash line through 106 contests.
Sep 22 2023Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two additional RBI in Thursday's 7-2 victory versus the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead with his fourth-inning solo shot and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth. The veteran has been on fire since being activated from the injured list Sept. 8, slashing .386/.442/.750 with five homers, 17 RBI and eight runs over 12 games. Martinez's long ball Thursday gave him his first 30-homer campaign since he went deep 36 times for Boston in 2019.
Sep 19 2023Martinez went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has enjoyed hitting against his former team, going 5-for-6 with three homers and six RBI over the first two games of this series. The designated hitter is at 29 long balls this season, putting him within striking distance of his first 30-homer campaign since 2019. He's added a .270/.324/.566 slash line with 92 RBI, 56 runs scored, a stolen base, 24 doubles and two triples through 102 contests in his first season with the Dodgers.
Sep 18 2023Martinez went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Monday's 8-3 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez opened the scoring with a second-inning solo shot, popped a three-run blast an inning later and tacked on the Dodgers' last run with an RBI single in the seventh. He's gone 13-for-36 (.361) over nine contests since he returned from a groin/hamstring issue that sent him to the injured list in August. The designated hitter is slashing .266/.318/.556 with 28 homers, 91 RBI, 55 runs scored and a stolen base through 101 contests overall.
Sep 10 2023Martinez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Washington, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was reinstated from the injured list Friday and started the past two games, but he'll take a seat Sunday after going 4-for-8 with a double, a homer, three RBI and two runs. Max Muncy will receive a turn as the Dodgers' designated hitter with Chris Taylor starting at third base.
Sep 9 2023Martinez went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 8-5 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Activated from the IL earlier in the day, Martinez wasted little time proving he was fully recovered from his groin injury as he drove a MacKenzie Gore slider over the fence in right-center field for a two-run shot in the first inning. It's his first long ball since July 25 and 26th of the season, and the 36-year-old DH might have enough time left on the calendar to reach 30 homers for the first time since 2019.
Sep 8 2023The Dodgers activated Martinez from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener at Washington, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez got a couple weeks off to heal a left groin/hamstring issue that had been lingering since July. He has an .856 OPS with 25 home runs and 78 RBI in 92 games for Los Angeles.
Sep 7 2023Martinez (groin) went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and three RBI on Wednesday in his second rehab game with Triple-A Oklahoma City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez kicked off his rehab assignment Tuesday, going 0-for-4 as OKC's designated hitter. He was back in the same role Wednesday and came through with a key hit for the Triple-A affiliate, clubbing an eighth-inning double that plated three runs to give OKC the lead. Martinez appears on track to be activated from the IL and return to the big-league Dodgers on Friday.
Sep 2 2023Martinez (groin) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday and is expected to return to the major-league Dodgers on Sept. 8 against Washington, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been on the injured list since Aug. 22 but appears to be making progress toward a return. The veteran slugger is slated to play in a simulated game Saturday ahead of kicking off a rehab stint Sunday. If all goes well, Martinez will return to the big club for the first game of next weekend's three-game set in Washington and will likely resume duties as Los Angeles' regular DH.
Aug 30 2023Martinez (groin) will embark on a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City before likely returning for the Dodgers' upcoming series against Washington, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Dodgers' series with the Nationals will run from Sept. 8-10, though it is unclear exactly which game Martinez will be activated for. The veteran slugger landed on the 10-day IL with left groin tightness on Aug. 22 and was slashing .200/.304/.300 across 23 plate appearances in August prior to getting injured.
Aug 28 2023Martinez (groin) is expected to join the Dodgers during the upcoming road trip to Miami and Washington, which begins Sept. 5, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While this news doesn't give an official return date for Martinez, it likely means the slugger is closing in on activation from the 10-day injured list. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 22 due to left groin tightness, and the team later revealed he'd need 2-to-3 weeks to recover.
Aug 22 2023Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Martinez (groin) will be out for at least 2-to-3 weeks, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez landed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday afternoon due to lingering left groin tightness and is going to be completely shut down from baseball activities for the next week. A build-up period will follow, and it could very well extend into mid-September. Michael Busch is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter and batting eighth Tuesday night at Cleveland.
Aug 19 2023Martinez isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Marlins, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went 1-for-3 in his return to the lineup Friday and will sit out Game 1, allowing Will Smith to serve as the DH and Austin Barnes to start behind the plate. Assuming Martinez's nagging groin injury isn't an issue, the 35-year-old slugger will likely return for the nightcap.
Aug 18 2023Martinez (groin) went 1-for-3 in Friday's 11-3 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez continues to be bothered by a groin/hamstring issue that's bothered him for much of the month, leading to multiple absences. With a doubleheader on tap Saturday, it wouldn't be surprising to see him only play in one of the two games. He's gone 4-for-17 (.235) in August while managing the issue, dropping his slash line for the year to .259/.312/.552 through 91 contests.
Aug 17 2023Martinez (groin) was a late scratch from the lineup Thursday versus the Brewers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was originally set to be in the lineup for the series finale, but he will now be on the bench. Martinez has been dealing with a hamstring/groin injury for multiple weeks and it appears to have flared up. Will Smith will take over at designated hitter and bat cleanup against Milwaukee.
Aug 15 2023Martinez (hamstring) went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been bothered by lingering hamstring discomfort over the last week-plus. He was solid Tuesday, providing the go-ahead knock to spark the Dodgers' sixth-inning rally. The veteran designated hitter is at a .259/.311/.557 slash line with 25 home runs, 77 RBI, 49 runs scored, 23 doubles, two triples and a stolen base over 89 contests this season. Assuming he can avoid further setbacks, he can be penciled into the heart of the Dodgers' order going forward.
Aug 12 2023Martinez (hamstring) will sit Sunday, though he will be available to pinch-hit, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Dave Roberts said following Saturday's 4-1 victory that Martinez will not start Sunday and the expectation is that he will return to the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers. Martinez last started a game this past Sunday versus San Diego.
Aug 11 2023Martinez (hamstring) is hoping to be available to play Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez and the Dodgers had been targeting a Saturday return, but the designated hitter instead will go through a pregame workout that day with the hope of playing Sunday. The slugger hasn't been in the lineup since this past Sunday due to a left hamstring injury but is feeling better after receiving an epidural injection earlier this week.
Aug 9 2023Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that he hopes Martinez (hamstring) could return Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez received a cortisone injection Wednesday, and his MRI results didn't reveal anything unexpected. The 35-year-old will remain shut down for a few days, but the team is seemingly sticking to its original timeline for Martinez to return during its upcoming series against Colorado.
Aug 8 2023Martinez was scratched from the Dodgers' lineup Tuesday against Arizona due to a hamstring injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is reportedly dealing with the same issue in his hamstring that has caused him to miss a significant amount of time recently. The Dodgers will run some tests and should provide more information in the near future, but Martinez should be considered day-to-day for the time being. Enrique Hernandez will enter Los Angeles' lineup in Martinez's place Tuesday.
Aug 7 2023Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had suggested over the weekend would be the case, Martinez will get a breather for the series finale in San Diego after he recently overcame a hamstring injury. With Martinez resting, the Dodgers will be able to ease third baseman Max Muncy back in Monday as their designated hitter after Muncy had missed the first three games of the series due to a bruised wrist.
Aug 5 2023Martinez is not expected to be in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez started Saturday's game and is set to do the same Sunday, but he missed time recently with a hamstring injury, and the Dodgers appear content to ease him back into action -- particularly with Monday's contest being played in the afternoon. Once Monday rolls around, the team will formally announce whether or not Martinez will be included in the starting nine.
Aug 3 2023Martinez (hamstring) is expected to return to the lineup Saturday versus the Padres, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has missed the Dodgers' entire three-game set against the Athletics due to left hamstring tightness and will also be held out of Friday's series opener in San Diego, but he took batting practice Thursday in Los Angeles and also did some on-field running without issue. When healthy this season, the veteran slugger has delivered an .872 OPS with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 85 games.
Aug 2 2023Martinez (hamstring) remains out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been sidelined all this week due to left hamstring tightness, though he said Tuesday that he believes he will be able to avoid the injured list. Chris Taylor is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Wednesday and batting sixth.
Aug 1 2023Martinez (hamstring) is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez made an early exit from Sunday's series finale against the Reds due to left hamstring tightness. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, the results of which have not yet been made available. Chris Taylor is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Tuesday.
Jul 30 2023Martinez (hamstring) will undergo an MRI after exiting Sunday's game against the Reds, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup, but he was replaced by a pinch hitter before making a plate appearance. Manager Dave Roberts said that the 35-year-old couldn't run or swing a bat Sunday, and his MRI should help determine the severity of his injury.
Jul 25 2023Martinez (hamstring) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 8-7 extra-inning win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went yard in the eighth inning. He was held out of a couple of games while dealing with the hamstring issue, but he should be good to go as the Dodgers' primary designated hitter again. The long ball was his 25th of the season and his sixth in July. He's added a .263/.314/.574 slash line with 74 RBI, 48 runs scored, one stolen bases, 20 doubles and two triples through 81 contests this season.
Jul 24 2023Martinez (hamstring) should be available off the bench to hit Monday against the Blue Jays, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez isn't in the starting nine Monday due to tightness in his left hamstring, but he's expected to return to action Tuesday. Skipper Dave Roberts indicated before the first game of the series that Martinez might also be able to pinch hit if needed. The team will likely have another update on the slugger's status prior to Tuesday's clash.
Jul 23 2023Manager Dave Roberts said Martinez (hamstring) won't be in the lineup Monday against the Blue Jays, but the slugger is expected to return to action Tuesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was a late scratch Sunday due to tightness in his left hamstring, but there's apparently not much concern over the injury since Roberts also said an MRI won't be necessary. The 35-year-old has swung a hot bat out of the All-Star break as he's hitting .345 with two homers and 11 RBI through seven games.
Jul 19 2023Martinez is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Orioles, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will get a breather after he went 2-for-9 with two RBI, a run scored and four strikeouts over the first two games of the series. Will Smith will slot in at designated hitter while Austin Barnes enters the lineup at catcher and bats ninth in the series finale with Baltimore.
Jul 15 2023Martinez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 6-0 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger took Dominic Leone deep in the eighth inning. Martinez has gone yard in three straight games sandwiched around the All-Star break, and over his last 13 contests he has seven of his 24 homers on the season, although his .259/.317/.667 slash line and 30 percent strikeout rate during that stretch are further signs the 35-year-old is becoming more of a one-dimensional power threat at this stage of his career.
Jul 9 2023Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk against the Angels in a 10-5 win Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went deep for the second straight game, launching a solo shot to center field in the sixth inning. Of the veteran's past five hits, three have been homers and one has been a double, and he's added three walks along with six RBI during that four-game span. Martinez is just eight long balls away from his first 30-homer campaign since 2019.
Jul 8 2023Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, an additional RBI and a walk against the Angels in an 11-4 win Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Each of the Dodgers' four All-Star position players went deep in the contest, including Martinez, who slugged a solo shot to left field in the second inning. The long ball pushed the veteran up to 21 homers on the campaign -- five more than he hit over 139 contests with Boston last season. Martinez added an RBI double in the third, drawing him to within one RBI of matching the 62 he posted last year with the Red Sox.
Jul 5 2023Martinez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez entered Wednesday 0-for-12 over the last three games, starting July cold after a hot finish to June. The designated hitter ended the drought with his go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, which got him to the 20-homer mark for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons. He's added 59 RBI, 41 runs scored, 19 doubles, two triples and a stolen base while slashing .251/.296/.553 over 70 contests this season. Martinez remains a reliable power bat, but his 6.0 percent walk rate and 30.2 strikeout rate are among the worst marks of his career, suggesting a worse batting eye.
Jun 29 2023Martinez went 4-for-6 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez led the Dodgers, accounting for four of their 18 hits in the blowout win. The designated hitter's biggest contribution was a two-run blast in the fourth inning to put the visitors in control. He's gone 14-for-46 (.304) over his last 11 games. The 35-year-old is up to a .267/.310/.586 slash line, 19 homers, 55 RBI, 37 runs scored and a stolen base through 64 contests on the year.
Jun 27 2023Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a solo homer scored in Tuesday's 5-0 win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez took advantage of the Colorado altitude, launching a two-run home run off Connor Seabold in the third inning and a solo shot off Brad Hand to lead off the sixth. The outing marked his third multi-homer performance on the year and broke a 12-game home run drought -- his second longest of the season -- to push his season total to 18 long balls. After recording a disappointing 16 home runs over 139 games last season with Boston, Martinez has already surpassed his 2022 total in 62 games and is on pace to come near his career high of 45 round-trippers.
Jun 15 2023Martinez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has gone 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts and one walk over his last three games, though he still holds a shiny .894 OPS on the year. Jason Heyward is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Thursday and batting cleanup.
Jun 11 2023Martinez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 9-0 rout of the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez provided the icing on the cake of the blowout, giving Los Angeles a nine-run cushion with his three-run shot in the seventh inning. The veteran has been on an extra-base-hit spree since returning from a stint on the injured list May 12, as 20 of his 31 knocks have gone for extra bases during that span. Over the 26-game stretch, he's slashing, .295/.319/.714 with eight doubles, 12 homers, 32 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Jun 7 2023Martinez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez kicked off the fourth with a solo homer to left and tacked on an additional RBI with a sacrifice fly. Dating back to May 15, the 35-year-old has notched at least one hit in 18 of 19 games and is slashing .321/.333/.769 with 10 homers, 25 RBI and 15 runs scored over that span. He sits at 15 home runs and 43 RBI through 45 games this season after having just 16 homers and 62 RBI in 139 games for Boston in 2022. It's unlikely he sustains his recent pace at the plate, but Martinez has certainly looked comfortable in his first year as a Dodger thus far.
Jun 5 2023Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The game was a scoreless pitching duel through six innings before the Yankees put a run on the board in the top of the seventh. Martinez responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the frame, but it was the only run the Dodgers could manage. The veteran slugger has been ramping up in the power department of late, going deep in five of his past seven games. That's part of an extended surge of 14 contests during which he's swatted nine homers, driven in 20 runs and scored 14 times.
Jun 3 2023Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run in Friday's 8-4 win against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez cracked a 413-foor solo shot to center field in the third inning for his 13th homer of the season over 166 at-bats. That's just three short of his total with Boston last year in 533 at-bats. The veteran has been particularly hot of late, going deep in four of his past five games and belting eight long balls across his past 12 contests. He also has 19 RBI and a .388/.396/.939 slash during the 12-game stretch.
May 30 2023Martinez went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his seventh-inning blast. He's batting .333 (20-for-60) in that span, and he's gone deep in three straight games and five of his last eight. The designated hitter's surge has him up to a .277/.312/.610 slash line with 12 long balls, 39 RBI, 25 runs scored and 13 doubles through 40 contests this season. He remains a fixture in the heart of the Dodgers' potent lineup.
May 28 2023Martinez went 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-10 loss to Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has now logged a hit in 12 straight games, going 18-for-53 with five homers in that span. The 35-year-old veteran has had an incredible month of May, batting .313 with six homers. Martinez boosted his slash line to .276/.315/.586 with eight homers and 33 RBI through 165 plate appearances this season.
May 24 2023Martinez went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run Tuesday in an 8-1 win against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Dodgers up 5-1 in the ninth, Martinez provided the knockout punch with a three-run shot off Michael Tonkin. The homer was the third in the past two contests for Martinez and extended his hitting streak to eight games. Over that stretch, the veteran slugger is slashing .314/.324/.714 with four home runs and 12 RBI.
May 22 2023Martinez went 4-for-5 with two solo homers and three runs scored in Monday's win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went deep to get the Dodgers on the board in the second inning and later clocked another homer in the seventh. It was his first multi-hit game since he collected four hits April 18. Martinez has three home runs in his last three games, giving him eight for the year with a .264/.310/.566 slash line through 142 plate appearances.
May 20 2023Martinez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in a loss to the Cardinals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's lone hit of the contest was a big one, as he connected for a three-run homer in the sixth inning to tie the game 3-3. The long ball was his sixth of the campaign and his second since returning from a stint on the injured list May 12. Since being activated, he's notched a hit in all but of the eight contests in which he's played, though that has amounted to a modest .212 batting average. Martinez has also knocked in nine RBI over the eight-game span.
May 17 2023Martinez is not in the starting lineup against the Twins on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will take a seat against right-hander Sonny Gray and Minnesota on Wednesday. Jason Heyward will hit fifth while lining up as the designated hitter.
May 13 2023Martinez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's first-inning blast was ultimately all the offense the Dodgers needed in the win. He's gone 2-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts over two games since he returned from a back injury that cost him nearly three weeks. The designated hitter is slashing a decent .253/.311/.547 with five homers, 18 RBI, 14 runs scored, nine doubles and two triples through 25 contests.
May 12 2023Martinez (back) is serving as the DH and batting cleanup Friday versus the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was activated from the injured list during the Dodgers' team off day Thursday and will step right back into the starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against San Diego. He had posted an .840 OPS with four home runs and 15 RBI through 23 games prior to suffering a lower back injury.
May 7 2023Manager Dave Roberts said Martinez (back) will face live pitching at the Dodgers' spring facility in Arizona this week, and the slugger should be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Padres, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was previously reported the 35-year-old lined up to return during the three-game set in Milwaukee that begins Monday, but it now appears he's set to be activated Friday. Given Martinez has exclusively served as a designated hitter over the past two seasons, it's not a major surprise he's expected to return without requiring a minor-league rehab assignment.
May 6 2023Martinez (back) took swings in a batting cage Friday and is expected to return during next week's series against Milwaukee, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was the first time that Martinez has hit in the cage since injuring his back against the Cubs on April 24. The veteran also did some running Friday, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, and the progress has him in line to return against the Brewers during the three-game series that starts Monday. Manager Dave Roberts said that Martinez is unlikely to play Monday, so May 9 appears to be the soonest that the slugger will appear in the lineup.
May 1 2023Martinez (back) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list during the Dodgers' upcoming weekend series against the Padres, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is eligible to come off the 10-day IL beginning Friday in San Diego, but skipper Dave Roberts noted Monday that he expects the slugger to need at least a few extra days before being activated. If all goes well over the next week, Martinez could be ready to return to the starting lineup for the team's series against the Brewers, which is scheduled to begin May 8.
Apr 28 2023Martinez was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Dodgers on Friday, retroactive to April 25, with lower back tightness, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was unable to return to the lineup again Friday, and the Dodgers instead will place the veteran designated hitter on the injured list to get right. Will Smith was activated off the injured list and will be the designated hitter against the Cardinals with Martinez out. It seems likely that the 35-year-old should require a minimal stint on the injured list at this point.
Apr 27 2023Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Martinez (back) hasn't been able to swing a bat in the last few days, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is out of the lineup for the third straight game Thursday at Pittsburgh, and Roberts told reporters that an MRI might be in the works once the team returns to Los Angeles. The veteran designated hitter began feeling tightness on the left side of his lower back in Sunday's series finale against the Cubs. If he doesn't show improvement by Friday, an IL stint may be necessary. Michael Busch could then remain with the club through Max Muncy's return from paternity leave.
Apr 1 2023Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 10-1 win over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez got his third straight start at DH and slotted into the No. 3 spot in the order with Will Smith getting a night off. The veteran enjoyed his best game of the season thus far, knocking his first two extra-base hits, including a 409-foot solo homer in the seventh inning. Martinez has gone 3-for-11 with a pair of RBI and five strikeouts through his first three games of the campaign.
Mar 11 2023Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hasn't ruled out Martinez playing some outfield this season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez played primarily in the outfield for the first seven seasons of his career before transitioning to designated hitter in 2018. Last season with the Red Sox, he played all 139 of his games as the DH, and he hasn't played the outfield in a regular-season contest since Oct. 3, 2021. However, the veteran started in left field in Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Cubs and made a nice running catch on the first play of the game. Though Roberts' comments suggest Martinez could occasionally play defense this season, it's uncertain if he'd do so often enough to gain outfield eligibility in fantasy leagues. One reason the team may want to put Martinez in the field from time to time is that doing so could help get catcher Will Smith's bat in the lineup on days when he needs a break behind the plate.
Feb 21 2023Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed over the weekend that Martinez will serve as the team's everyday DH in 2023, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "I don't expect J.D. to DH 162 [games]," Roberts said. "But he's gonna be the guy who is gonna be in that position 99.9 percent of the time." Martinez inked a one-year, $10 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers back in December and has a chance to flourish with a solidified spot in the heart of such a deep and dangerous lineup. He posted a .790 OPS with 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 139 games last season with the Red Sox.
Dec 17 2022Martinez agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Dodgers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Passan notes that the move to Los Angeles reunites Martinez with hitting coach Robert Von Scoyoc, who was "wildly influential" in Martinez's rise from washout with Houston to star slugger. Martinez was a four-time All-Star with Boston, but his over-the-fence power took a step backward last year (16 home runs) and the Red Sox declined to extend him the qualifying offer for 2023. He played exclusively as a DH last year and figures to be the Dodgers' new primary designated hitter and cleanup man.
Oct 29 2022Martinez is unlikely to get a qualifying offer from the Red Sox, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As a 35-year-old designated hitter who was only worth 1.0 fWAR in 139 games last season, Martinez was unlikely to get the qualifying offer. He will likely sign this winter on a short-term deal to serve as another team's primary designated hitter.
Oct 5 2022Martinez went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez launched a three-run home run off Josh Fleming in the bottom of the first inning before going deep for a solo shot in the fourth. The homers raised his season total to 16, four of which came in the final 14 games of the season. Martinez will finish the 2022 campaign with a .274 average, 16 home runs, 62 RBI and 76 runs over 533 at-bats in 139 games.
Oct 1 2022Martinez isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will get a day off after he slashed .333/.364/.762 with two home runs, three doubles, five runs and three RBI over the last five games. Xander Bogaerts is serving as the designated hitter and batting third.
Sep 30 2022Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run home run and two runs scored Thursday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez took Dillon Tate deep in the eighth inning to provide the game-winning runs and his 14th homer of the season. He has a modest four-game hitting streak, though his production in that span is notable as he's smacked three doubles and two homers. Despite the recent hot stretch, Martinez has only a .169 ISO across 577 plate appearances this season -- his lowest mark since 2013.
Sep 27 2022Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and a second run scored in Monday's 14-8 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez launched his 13th home run in the second inning off Jordan Lyles. The 34-year-old outfielder/DH, who will become a free agent this offseason, is in the finishing stretch of his fifth season with Boston. It's been his least productive year with the Red Sox, and Martinez is not expected to return in 2023. Nevertheless, he's expected to start most of the final eight games of 2022.
Sep 24 2022Martinez isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Yankees, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is getting a rare day off after he went just 1-for-10 with a walk and four strikeouts over the last three games. Bobby Dalbec will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh.
Sep 21 2022Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run, a triple and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's slugging percentage (.423) for the season is still nearly 100 points lower than his 2021 mark (.518), but the 35-year-old is at least showing more pop as the campaign winds down. He's now recorded four extra-base hits in his last two starts, as he previously turned in a pair of doubles in Sunday's 13-3 win over the Royals. He'll be back in the lineup for the Red Sox's series finale in Cincinnati on Wednesday, serving as Boston's designated hitter and No. 5 batter, according to Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican.
Sep 17 2022Martinez went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 2-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox were flummoxed by Kansas City starter Jonathan Heasley over 6.2 innings before getting to the Royals bullpen in the eighth. Dylan Coleman and Scott Barlow combined to walk four batters, when Martinez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and got a slider that caught too much of the plate. The 34-year-old Martinez, who has 11 home runs, 53 RBI and a career-low .422 slugging percentage, is finishing out what is expected to be his final season in Boston.
Sep 8 2022Martinez returned to the lineup and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez had missed the previous three games due to back problems. He'll get another off day Thursday before the Red Sox face the Orioles for three games in Baltimore this weekend. The slugger is batting just .200 with two home runs since the All-Star break.
Sep 7 2022Martinez (back) is starting Wednesday against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back tightness but will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth a day later. Over his last four games, he's gone 6-for-17 with a home run, a double, three runs and two RBI.
Sep 6 2022Managaer Alex Cora said Martinez (back) is expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale in Tampa Bay, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger was scratched from Tuesday's starting nine due to back tightness, but he's expected to rejoin the lineup after missing only one game. Martinez is in the midst of a modest four-game hit streak, during which he is 6-for-17 with a home run, a double, two walks, two RBI and three runs scored.
Sep 5 2022Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Red Sox manager Alex Cora provided no indication that Martinez's absence from the lineup in Sunday's 5-2 win against the Rangers was injury-related, but the fact that the 35-year-old is now on the bench for a second day in a row suggests that a physical issue could be in play. An explanation behind Martinez's back-to-back days off could come later Monday, but Tommy Pham will get another turn as Boston's designated hitter in his stead in any event.
Sep 4 2022Martinez is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez started the last 14 games and will receive a day off after he posted a .276/.323/.431 slash line with two home runs, five RBI and six runs during that span. Tommy Pham will serve as the designated hitter while Franchy Cordero starts in left field.
Sep 1 2022Martinez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez, who snapped a 35-game homer-less drought Sunday, now has two blasts in the last four days. The slugger has just 11 home runs for the season, a dip in power he attributed to not firing his hips correctly, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reported following Sunday's drought-busting homer.
Aug 29 2022Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It seems unthinkable, but Martinez's homer snapped a 35-game drought without going deep. His last home run was July 10. Even more unthinkable, it took until Aug. 28 for Martinez to reach double-digit dingers -- Sunday's blast was his 10th of the season. He's in the final year of his contract, and the Red Sox are not expected to make an effort to re-sign Martinez.
Aug 19 2022Martinez is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will get a day off after he went 3-for-8 with five walks and three runs during the three-game series with the Pirates. Rob Refsnyder will replace him at designated hitter and bat seventh in the series opener.
Aug 12 2022Martinez went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in Friday's win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez brought the Red Sox to within one run with his RBI single in the fourth, and his one-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth sent the game to extras, where Boston would eventually win. The game represented Martinez's first multi-hit performance thus far in August -- he'd gone just 5-for-33 (.152) at the plate to begin the month.
Aug 6 2022Martinez batted sixth and went 1-for-5 with a two-run double in Friday's 7-4 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez, who went 3-for-34 (.088) in his first nine games following the All-Star break, was dropped to sixth in the order. It was the first time he's batted as low as sixth since May 16, 2017, when he was with the Tigers. It's been a down year for the slumping slugger, who has just nine home runs and 42 RBI through 91 games -- well off the pace of his 162-game average of 33 and 105.
Aug 3 2022Martinez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though the Red Sox made Martinez available ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, the team didn't find an offer it liked and will keep the 34-year-old in the fold for the remainder of the campaign. Though Martinez should continue to play on a near-everyday basis, he'll get a breather Wednesday while the Red Sox conclude their series in Houston with a day game after a night game. Rafael Devers will step in as Boston's designated hitter while Martinez sits after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's 2-1 win.
Jul 30 2022Martinez is likely to be traded before Tuesday's trade deadline, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's name has popped up in reports from Alex Speier of the Boston Globe and Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal in the last week. Speier wrote "there is a good likelihood that the Red Sox will deal Martinez," while McAdam mentioned the Dodgers and Mets as being interested. Martinez is in the final year of his contract, and the Red Sox don't seem intent on bringing him back in 2023.
Jul 27 2022Martinez went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez returned to the starting lineup after missing four games due to back spams. He slotted in at designated hitter and batted cleanup.
Jul 26 2022Martinez (back) is batting cleanup as the designated hitter Tuesday versus Cleveland, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This will be Martinez's first start since the All-Star break, as he's been battling back spasms. It's been a pretty pedestrian month for the veteran DH, as he's hit .254 with seven extra-base hits and 17 strikeouts in 59 at-bats in July.
Jul 25 2022Martinez (back) is out of the lineup Monday versus the Guardians, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will miss a fourth straight game while nursing back spasms Monday. He remains day-to-day, but manager Alex Cora said Martinez could be available off the bench for the series opener in a pinch-hitting capacity, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Rob Refsnyder will start at designated hitter and bat second in the series opener.
Jul 24 2022Martinez (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will remain on the bench Sunday for the third consecutive game due to back spasms. It's unclear if the veteran slugger will be available off the bench or if he's expected to be back for Monday's series opener versus the Guardians. Alex Verdugo will serve as the designated hitter while Franchy Cordero shifts to left field.
Jul 23 2022Martinez (back) isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was scratched from Friday's lineup due to back spasms and will be held out of the starting nine for a second consecutive game. Franchy Cordero is serving as the designated hitter while Bobby Dalbec starts at first base.
Jul 22 2022Martinez was removed from Friday's lineup due to back spasms, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was initially in the lineup versus the Blue Jays at designated hitter, but he should now be considered day-to-day. Rob Refsnyder replaces him for the series opener against Toronto.
Jul 13 2022Martinez (undisclosed) is starting at designated hitter and batting third against the Rays on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is back in the starting lineup after suffering from some unspecified soreness Tuesday and failing to play in the Red Sox's loss to the Rays. The 34-year-old currently owns a four-game hit streak, batting .412 with a homer, four RBI and seven runs over that span.
Jul 12 2022Manager Alex Cora said Martinez didn't appear off the bench during Tuesday's loss to the Rays due to some soreness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 34-year-old was held out of the lineup Tuesday for what appeared to be a routine maintenance day, but Cora announced after the game the slugger is managing some soreness. It doesn't appear to be a serious issue, so Martinez could be back in the starting nine for Wednesday's contest.
Jul 3 2022Martinez will be out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lineup is still pending, but both Martinez and Trevor Story are said to be on the bench for the series finale. Boston returns home for an early game Monday, and both players should be expected to start in front of the home fans. Martinez is 1-for-21 with 10 strikeouts in his last five games.
Jun 16 2022Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even after slugging three long balls in his previous four games, Martinez is sitting on a somewhat suppressed total of eight home runs on the season, but fantasy managers have little reason to otherwise complain about the 34-year-old. Martinez, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts have formed arguably the most fearsome trio of hitters in the majors this season, with all taking batting averages north of .330 and on-base averages above .370 into Thursday's series finale. Martinez will serve as Boston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter Thursday, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe.
Jun 14 2022Martinez went 1-for-4 with solo home run and a walk during Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger had five homers through his first 50 appearances of the season, but he's found his power stroke of late with three long balls across his four games. Martinez ranks third in the league with a .345 batting average to go along with 22 doubles, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored.
Jun 10 2022Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 4-3 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went yard in the third inning off Mariners starter Marco Gonzales. In the seventh, Martinez hit into a double play that yielded the Red Sox's last run, though he's not credited with an RBI on that play. He's been solid in June, going 9-for-32 (.281) in his last eight games. The 34-year-old's homer Friday was his first since May 17 and his sixth of the year. He's added a .349/.415/.552 slash line, 24 RBI, 34 runs scored and 21 doubles through 49 contests.
Jun 5 2022Martinez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Athletics, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is hitting .308 with zero home runs and 10 runs scored over his last 10 games. Jarren Duran, who may be up only while Jackie Bradley is on the paternity list, is getting the start at designated hitter.
May 28 2022Martinez will not start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the first game of the day. Even though he merely served as the designated hitter, the Red Sox evidently don't want him playing 18 innings in one day. Franchy Cordero will fill that spot in his absence, with Bobby Dalbec starting at first base.
May 27 2022Martinez went 3-for-5 with a walk and three runs scored in Thursday's 16-7 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There were many hitting stars in the game, overshadowing Martinez, but the Red Sox's designated hitter is ridiculously hot right now. In 22 May games, he's slashing .443/.485/.670 with four home runs, 13 RBI and 20 runs scored. It helps that the rest of lineup around him is also hitting, so there are no easy spots at the top of the order. Martinez wakes up Friday as the MLB leader in average (.380) and is third with a 197 wRC+, behind only Mike Trout and Aaron Judge.
May 24 2022Martinez went 4-for-5 with a double, three runs, an RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 16-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Following a two game absence with back spasms, Martinez returned in spectacular fashion Tuesday. He walked and scored in the first inning before later adding three hits including a double while scoring twice more and driving in a run. Martinez now has two four-hit efforts in his last four contests, going a ridiculous 11-for-17 with three doubles, eight runs and an RBI in those contests. After batting a respectable .278 over 54 at-bats in April, the 34-year-old has been red-hot in May, producing a .425 average with 12 extra-base hits, 16 runs and 13 RBI in 80 at-bats during the month.
May 22 2022Martinez was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners due to back spasms, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was slated to start Sunday before being scratched a few minutes before first pitch. The severity of the injury is unclear, but he'll have Monday's scheduled off day to be evaluated before potentially missing additional time. Christian Arroyo will serve as Boston's designated hitter in his place.
May 19 2022Martinez went 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored Thursday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez benefitted from a big offensive performance by the Red Sox -- and Trevor Story in particular -- to score multiple runs in a game for the third time this season. It also marked his third multi-hit effort in his last four starts, during which he's hit one home run while driving in four and scoring five runs. Overall, Martinez has maintained a .344/.383/.582 line across 133 plate appearances on the campaign.
May 18 2022Martinez went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 13-4 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez launched his fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning, but by that time, the Red Sox were down by 10 runs. The DH extended his batting streak to 19 games, during which Martinez has gone 29-for-75 (.387) with four home runs, nine doubles, 13 RBI and nine runs scored.
May 14 2022Martinez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's sixth-inning single extended a hitting streak to 15 consecutive games and a season-long on-base streak to 25. He's shown no sign of slowing down at age 34, posting a slash of .306/.349/.510 with 14 extra-base hits, 15 RBI and 12 runs scored over 106 plate appearances.
May 4 2022Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez launched an eighth-inning bomb over the wall in left for his third homer and second in as many games. He's dealt with a nagging groin injury, which no longer appears to be bothersome. Boston's designated hitter is 5-for-9 with five RBI over the last two games.
May 1 2022Martinez went 3-for-5 with a grand slam during Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez missed the past three games with adductor discomfort, but he returned to the lineup with a bang Sunday. The veteran slugger was already 2-for-4 on the day with the Red Sox trailing by eight runs in the ninth inning, and he came through with a 364-foot homer to right with the bases juiced to make the final score more respectable. The fact Martinez wasn't subbed out in the midst of a blowout is an encouraging sign for the injury, so he should be back in the lineup Tuesday following Boston's scheduled day off Monday.
Apr 30 2022Manager Alex Cora expects Martinez (groin) to start Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game, but Cora's comments -- and the fact Martinez will be available to pinch hit Saturday -- suggest that was only a precautionary measure.
Apr 25 2022Martinez (groin) will return to the lineup as a designated hitter Monday against Toronto, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A sore groin cost Martinez four games, but he avoided a trip to the injured list and is now ready to go. He was off to a solid start prior to the injury, hitting .268/.354/.463 through 12 games.
Apr 24 2022Martinez (groin) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A sore left adductor will keep Martinez on the bench for the fourth game in a row, though the Red Sox haven't yet indicated that the issue is something that will result in him moving to the 10-day injured list. Ideally, fantasy managers will get more clarity on Martinez's situation before the Red Sox begin a seven-game week Monday in Toronto.
Apr 23 2022Martinez (groin) remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez left Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays with left adductor tightness and hasn't made an appearance since. He was reportedly available to pinch hit if needed Friday, which suggests he'll be available in the same capacity Saturday, but it's not clear when he's expected back in the lineup.
Apr 22 2022Martinez (groin) is absent from the lineup as expected Friday against Tampa Bay, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez left Wednesday's game against Toronto with left adductor tightness and didn't play Thursday, with reports from that day indicating that he'd likely miss at least one more day. The Red Sox previously indicated that Martinez wasn't expected to hit the injured list, so it looks as though he could be back in action soon.
Apr 21 2022Martinez (groin), who isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Blue Jays, likely won't play Friday against the Rays, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is still sore with tightness in his adductor, and he continues to receive treatment. Although the 34-year-old will travel with the team to Tampa Bay, he's unlikely to play in Friday's series opener. Manager Alex Cora has said he doesn't think Martinez will require a trip to the injured list, so the slugger should be considered day-to-day.
Apr 20 2022Manager Alex Cora said Martinez (groin) is sore and isn't expected to play Thursday against the Blue Jays, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boston's skipper also said he doesn't believe a trip to the injured list will be necessary, and the veteran slugger should be considered day-to-day. Martinez went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI prior to exiting Wednesday's contest with left adductor tightness.
Apr 17 2022Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run and a strikeout in Sunday's 8-1 win over Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez struck out five times during the first two games of the series against the Twins, but he was effective as part of a late offensive surge by the Red Sox in Sunday's victory. The 34-year-old has recorded hits in eight of his first nine appearances in 2022, hitting .250 with a homer, four doubles, six runs and six RBI.
Apr 12 2022Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's leadoff blast in the top of the fifth inning broke up Matt Manning's perfect game and proved to be the only offense the Red Sox could muster on the night. The long ball was Martinez's first of the season and his third extra-base hit of the campaign. He'll remain in the lineup Tuesday for the second game of the series, serving as Boston's designated hitter while batting out of the cleanup spot.
Mar 25 2022The Red Sox plan to use a platoon in right field with Martinez starting against left-handers and Jackie Bradley against righties, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Now that the Red Sox have added an elite bat in Trevor Story, they have offensively capable bats in case Bradley doesn't recover from his .163/.236/.261 slash line from 2021. In addition to using Martinez in right, the Red Sox plan to give Christian Arroyo (hand) outfield reps. Both Martinez and Arroyo, who can play anywhere in the infield, will be in the lineup against lefties.
Nov 7 2021Martinez declined to exercise his opt-out and will remain with the Red Sox for 2022, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He will earn $19.35 million for 2022 before hitting the open market after the season. This was not seen as a forgone conclusion, but as a 34-year-old designated hitter, Martinez may have had to settle for a lower annual figure if he tested free agency this winter. He hit .286/.349/.518 with 28 home runs in 148 games and played enough games in the outfield to qualify there in fantasy next season.
Oct 19 2021Martinez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored in Monday's ALCS Game 3 win over Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was involved in the Red Sox's six-run rally in the second inning, doubling and scoring on Christian Arroyo's fielder's choice. He later added some insurance runs with a two-run homer off Phil Maton in the sixth inning, extended Boston's lead to eight.
Oct 16 2021Martinez went 2-for-5 with a grand slam in Saturday's ALCS Game 2 victory over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox jumped out to an early lead, with Martinez hitting a grand slam off Luis Garcia in the top of the first inning and Rafael Devers copying that feat in the top of the second against Jake Odorizzi. The homer was Martinez's second this postseason and his eighth in 26 career playoff games.
Oct 9 2021Martinez went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and a double in Friday's 14-6 win over the Rays in Game 2 of the ALDS. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez missed Boston's first two postseason games due to a sprained ankle, but he served as the designated hitter Friday and was one of the top performers in the win. The 34-year-old said he felt some pain while running in Game 2 but felt good hitting, and he'll have an additional day to recover ahead of Game 3 on Sunday.
Oct 8 2021Martinez (ankle) is starting Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays on Friday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez didn't appear in Thursday's Game 1 loss as he dealt with an ankle injury, but he took batting practice ahead of Friday's matchup. He'll serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth in Game 2.
Oct 7 2021There is a "strong possibility" that Martinez (ankle) will play in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays on Friday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been dealing with an ankle injury since the team's final regular-season contest. After missing the AL Wild Card Game, Martinez was added to Boston's ALDS roster but was not in the starting lineup for Game 1. While there is some optimism that Martinez can return, manager Alex Cora also added that there were no guarantees regarding Martinez's availability.
Oct 6 2021Martinez (ankle) is expected to fight to be on Boston's ALDS roster, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is still hurt after he exited Sunday's regular-season finale against Washington due to a left ankle sprain. However, further testing revealed no structural damage. The 34-year-old could miss time early in the ALDS if he doesn't heal in time, but he has a chance to be a part of the team's roster for the series against Tampa Bay.
Oct 5 2021Martinez (ankle) is not on the Red Sox's wild-card roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez left Sunday's regular-season finale against the Nationals with a left ankle sprain, an issue which is evidently serious enough to prevent him from serving even in a designated hitter role just two days later. Whether or not Martinez has a chance to be active for the ALDS should Boston advance remains to be seen.
Oct 3 2021Manager Alex Cora said after Sunday's game that he isn't sure whether Martinez (ankle) will be available for Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game against the Yankees, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez sustained a sprained ankle while running to the outfield in Sunday's win over the Nationals, and he was replaced by a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth inning. The 34-year-old will be evaluated Monday to determine his status for Tuesday's winner-take-all contest.
Sep 29 2021Martinez went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The designated hitter opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second inning, and he extended Boston's lead to 3-0 with a two-run double in the sixth. Martinez entered Wednesday just 2-for-13 in his last four games. The three-hit effort lifted his slash line to .287/.349/.522 with 28 homers, 99 RBI, 90 runs scored and 41 doubles through 619 plate appearances.
Sep 14 2021Martinez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two strikeouts in an 8-4 triumph over the Mariners on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez opened the game's scoring with a fourth-inning long ball to center and brought home a run with a single in the ninth. The long ball gives the designated hitter 25 on the season as he's now slashing .275/.356/.475 across 10 September games.
Sep 13 2021Martinez (back) is in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was held out of Sunday's series finale due to a back issue, but he's been given the green light to participate in Monday's contest. He'll serve as the DH and bat fifth.
Sep 12 2021Martinez (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slugger will miss a third straight game due to back spasms. Martinez should still be considered day-to-day, with a chance of returning for Monday's series opener in Seattle. Travis Shaw is batting seventh as the designated hitter Sunday.
Sep 11 2021Martinez (back) is considered unlikely to play Sunday against the White Sox, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was scratched from the lineup for each of the last two games due to back spasms, and he'll likely remain on the bench for Sunday's series finale. However, the 34-year-old still appears to be day-to-day for now.
Sep 10 2021Martinez was scratched from Friday's lineup against the White Sox due to back spasms, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was visiting with trainers ahead of Friday's game, and he'll ultimately be unable to start. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter while Danny Santana enters the lineup in left field.
Sep 6 2021Martinez went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI and an additional run in Sunday's 11-5 loss to Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's strikeout rate (30.4 percent) has been on the rise over his past 10 games, but it hasn't hindered him much from a production standpoint. During that stretch, Martinez is slashing .318/.348/.523 with two home runs, nine RBI and five runs. According to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, Martinez will remain in the lineup for Monday's series opener with the Rays, starting in left field and batting cleanup.
Aug 28 2021Martinez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez made his presence felt when it mattered the most. With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the 10th inning, the veteran slugger blasted a three-run bomb off reliever Nick Wittgren and building a lead the Red Sox wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way. It was Martinez's 24th long ball of the campaign, but perhaps even more importantly, he managed to end two droughts -- an 0-for-18 slump and a nine-game homer drought.
Aug 27 2021Martinez isn't starting Friday's game against Cleveland, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez will get a chance to reset in Friday's series opener after he went 0-for-18 with a run, a walk and six strikeouts across the last four games. Rafael Devers will serve as the designated hitter while Bobby Dalbec starts at third base.
Aug 15 2021Martinez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 6-2 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 33-year-old got a start in left field Sunday as the Red Sox continue to be cautious with Kyle Schwarber's return from a hamstring injury. Martinez put the Red Sox ahead with his first-inning blast, and the lead never flipped after that. He's homered in consecutive contests to give himself 23 for the year, along with 79 RBI, 76 runs scored, 32 doubles and a .293/.359/.545 slash line through 476 plate appearances.
Aug 14 2021Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double and a three-run home run in Saturday's 16-2 rout of the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He turned around an Adam Plutko pitch in the fifth inning for his 22nd homer of the season, part of a five-homer, 17-hit rampage by the Boston offense in support of Chris Sale during the southpaw's first big-league start in almost exactly two years. Martinez has been feast or famine so far in August -- he has four multi-hit performances in 10 games and also four goose eggs -- but the former has outweighed the latter, leading to a .333 (14-for-42) batting average on the month with 10 RBI.
Aug 13 2021Martinez will be on the bench for Friday's game against Baltimore, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kyle Schwarber will be the designated hitter in both his first game back from a hamstring injury and his first game as a member of the Red Sox. While designated hitter may be Schwarber's best fit on most teams, Martinez is clearly far too good to lose much playing time there going forward, so the Red Sox will have to play one of the two sluggers into the outfield (or potentially first base, in Schwarber's case) most of the time going forward.
Aug 12 2021Martinez went 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, three runs and two RBI in Wednesday's 20-8 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second time in three starts since being reinstated from the COVID-19-related injured list, Martinez came through with a four-hit performance. The two big days at the plate have helped compensate for an otherwise disappointing stretch of play for Martinez, who has tallied eight hits combined in his other 15 starts dating back to July 23.
Aug 9 2021Martinez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs Sunday in the Red Sox's 9-8 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brought back from the COVID-19 injured list Sunday after a one-game hiatus, Martinez busted out with his third four-hit performance of the season. Prior to being deactivated for a day, Martinez had been in the midst of a prolonged slump, going 8-for-55 (.145 average) over his prior 14 starts. The Red Sox will need Martinez to re-emerge as the All-Star player he was in the first half if the team is to chase down the Rays for the American League East crown or hold its position in the wild-card race.
Aug 8 2021Martinez (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list and is batting fifth as the designated hitter Sunday against the Blue Jays, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger landed on the COVID list Saturday while feeling under the weather, but he tested negative for the virus and will rejoin the team for the series finale. Martinez is 6-for-41 with a .386 OPS over his past 10 games.
Aug 7 2021Martinez was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Saturday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez wasn't feeling well Friday night or Saturday morning, so he'll be away from the team as a precautionary measure. He'll miss extended time if he tests positive for the virus, but the 33-year-old will be eligible to return as soon as he clears the league's health and safety protocols if he tests negative.
Jul 21 2021Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs in a 7-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran crossed the plate after doubling in the sixth inning and went deep to right field for a solo homer in the eighth. He has now reached base seven times in nine plate appearances over his past two games and is batting a robust .305 on the campaign while racking up 20 homers, 26 doubles and 64 RBI.
Jul 20 2021Martinez batted fifth and went 4-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in Monday's 13-4 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez had batted third in all but one game prior to Monday, but manager Alex Cora wanted to tweak a lineup that he felt had been underperforming since early in the month, per Jordan Horrobin of MLB.com. That includes losing two of three to Yankees over the weekend, a series that saw the Red Sox score just six runs while batting .172. Ironically, Cora wanted to "get some traffic" on the bases in front of Martinez -- Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers -- but none of his plate appearances in this one came with runners in scoring position.
Jul 16 2021Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-0 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez provided Boston's last run of the game with an eighth-inning blast. The designated hitter is up to 19 homers, 63 RBI, 61 runs scored and a .299/.369/.561 slash line through 371 plate appearances this year. The 33-year-old will likely continue to hit third in Boston's order, giving him plenty of chances to get involved in run production for a top-five offense in all of baseball.
Jul 9 2021Martinez went 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBI and two walks in Friday's 11-5 win over Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The designated hitter put Boston ahead for good with a three-run homer in the second inning. Martinez added a ground rule double in the third to cap off a four-run rally that solidified Boston's lead. The 33-year-old is 8-for-26 (.308) with two homers, eight RBI and five runs scored through seven games in July. That's right about in line with his .303/.372/.562 slash line through 358 plate appearances overall.
Jul 2 2021Martinez is not starting Friday's series opener against the Athletics, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 33-year-old gets a day of rest after homering in consecutive games and hitting .293 with three home runs and 11 RBI in his last 11 contests. Rafael Devers is the designated hitter Friday, with Marwin Gonzalez starting at third base.
Jul 1 2021Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, three runs scored, a double and a walk Thursday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez took Kris Bubic yard in the fourth inning to record his 17th home run of the season and second in as many games. His power has disappeared for large stretches of the season, as he recorded only seven home runs combined between May and June after hitting nine in April. However, he's now gone deep four times in his last 12 starts. Overall, Martinez has a maintained a very strong .305/.372/.563 line across 331 plate appearances.
Jun 30 2021Martinez went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, four RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez could not be fooled at the plate Tuesday as he notched his third four-RBI game of the year. The 33-year-old drove in his first two runs on a single and sacrifice fly and gave the Red Sox the lead for good on a two-run double in the sixth to put them up 7-6. He also walked twice and scored while raising his slash line to .302/.366/.542 with 37 extra-base hits, 51 RBI, 53 runs scored and a 30:73 BB:K over 322 plate appearances. Martinez appears to have returned to his old form in 2021 after struggling at the plate during the shortened season last year.
Jun 27 2021Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 9-2 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went deep to center field in the third inning, extending Boston's lead to 5-0 at the time. The designated hitter has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games, going 17-for-66 (.258) with three home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs scored in that span. He's posted an OPS of .902 with 15 long balls, 47 RBI and 52 runs scored through 72 games overall.
Jun 23 2021Martinez went 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-5 extra-innings win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's two-run double in the third inning extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The slugger has an .818 OPS during the streak with six extra-base hits, seven RBI and eight runs scored. His .913 OPS in 2021 has allayed any concerns that may have surfaced following a sub-par 2020 when he posted a .680 OPS.
Jun 19 2021Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His fifth-inning blast off Brad Keller capped a four-run rally by the Red Sox that put them in the lead for good. Martinez extended his hitting streak to nine games with the long ball, and on the season he's batting .307 with 14 homers and 44 RBI through 65 contests.
Jun 10 2021Martinez went 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 12-8 win over Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went yard in the third inning for his first homer since May 20 -- he has battled foot and wrist injuries since then. In the sixth, he reached on a run-scoring error, then scored when Christian Vazquez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Martinez is slashing a strong .312/.377/.561 with 13 homers, 41 RBI and 43 runs scored across 246 plate appearances. He should continue to hit in the heart of Boston's order while seeing time as the designated hitter and corner outfield depth.
Jun 9 2021Martinez went 1-for-4 with a single in Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was back in the lineup after missing three games due to a wrist injury. He returned to serve as the designated hitter but was dropped to the cleanup spot for the first time in 2021.
Jun 8 2021Martinez (wrist) will bat cleanup and serve as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Astros, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A left wrist issue kept Martinez out of the lineup for three straight games, but the Red Sox didn't expect the injury to warrant a trip to the injured list. That's indeed the case, as he's back in action Tuesday and will look to build on a bounce-back season that has seen him hit .321/.389/.569 through 54 games.
Jun 7 2021Martinez (wrist) will sit for the third straight game Monday against the Marlins, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was a late scratch Saturday against the Yankees and didn't participate in Sunday's contest. Though he'll remain on the bench for one more game, the Red Sox are optimistic that Martinez will be ready to rejoin the lineup for Tuesday's series opener versus Houston, according to McCaffrey. Rafael Devers will rest his legs and serve as the designated hitter in Martinez's absence Monday.
Jun 6 2021Manager Alex Cora said Sunday that he doesn't anticipate Martinez (wrist) requiring a stint on the 10-day injured list, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's 7-3 win due to a left wrist issue, Martinez remains absent from the starting nine for Sunday's series finale. Cora noted that the slugger is continuing to receive treatment for the injury, which isn't considered a structural issue, according to Bill Koch of The Providence Journal. Martinez can be considered day-to-day heading into Boston's seven-game week.
Jun 5 2021Martinez was scratched from the lineup Saturday due to a left wrist injury, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez, who suffered the injury while sliding in Friday's contest, is day-to-day.
May 31 2021Martinez (foot) is starting Monday's game against the Astros, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was held out of Sunday's lineup after he fouled a ball off his left foot Saturday. However, he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third Monday.
May 30 2021Martinez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins after fouling a ball off his left foot during Saturday's contest, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger went 2-for-4 with two doubles Saturday and never exited the contest, but he'll receive the day off Sunday while receiving treatment for his foot. It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, so perhaps Martinez will be ready to go for Monday's series opener at Houston.
May 23 2021Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been in the lineup for every game since April 17, and with a team off day coming Monday, manager Alex Cora decided it was an optimal time to build in two days of rest for the veteran slugger, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. The extra maintenance should prove beneficial for Martinez, who has bounced back nicely after a down 2020 campaign. Through his first 45 games of the season, Martinez is slashing .328/.404/.592 with 12 home runs, 37 RBI and 38 runs across 198 plate appearances.
May 20 2021Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's 8-7 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez hit a game-winning two-run home run off Rafael Dolis in the ninth inning Thursday. In addition, he had an RBI single in the second inning. The 33-year-old went 12 games without a long ball before cranking a homer in back-to-back games. He now has 12 on the season, leading Boston and tying for third in all of baseball. He is slashing .331/.404/.608 with 37 RBI and 35 runs -- both second in all of baseball -- in 188 plate appearances.
May 19 2021Martinez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-3 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez took Toronto starter Ross Stripling deep in the first inning. The homer was the designated hitter's first since May 5, a span of 12 games without a long ball. He's up to 11 homers, 34 RBI, 34 runs scored and 10 doubles across 183 plate appearances. The 33-year-old is slashing .329/.404/.596 while occupying the No. 3 hole in Boston's order.
May 10 2021Martinez went 2-for-4 with one run scored Monday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez reached base in the fourth inning on a single, and he would later score Boston's only run of the day on a sacrifice fly. He's started the month of May 9-for-33 at the dish with one home run and six RBI in nine contests.
May 6 2021Martinez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox didn't do much against Casey Mize over six innings, but they were able to get to the bullpen in the seventh, when Martinez delivered a game-tying blast. It was his league-high-tying 10th homer of the season, and his 29 RBI lead the majors. Martinez has hit safely in four of the last five contests, going 8-for-19 with three homers, eight RBI and six runs scored.
Apr 30 2021Martinez went 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBI in Friday's 6-1 win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez entered Friday in a mini 0-for-9 slump over his last three games but quickly put that behind him with a three-run blast in the first inning. He then cranked his second homer in the third, giving him nine long balls and 25 RBI through just 94 at-bats. The 33-year-old had seven home runs and 27 RBI in 211 at-bats during the 2020 season.
Apr 29 2021Martinez (illness) will be sidelined Friday against the Rangers, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was removed from Thursday's game with "migraine-related symptoms." Manager Alex Cora did not offer further details on Martinez's condition, but did already rule the star hitter out of Friday's lineup.
Apr 23 2021Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-5 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger launched his seventh homer of the year off Yusei Kikuchi in the third inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games in the process. Martinez has already matched in home run total from 2020 in 35 fewer games, and his 1.179 OPS is almost 500 points higher than last year's performance.
Apr 19 2021Martinez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored Monday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez clubbed a solo homer over the fence in left field during the second inning, increasing Boston's lead to six. He would later tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single. The 33-year-old has pieced together a modest four-game hitting streak and is slashing .383/.439/.800 with six home runs and 20 RBI in 15 contests this season.
Apr 15 2021Martinez isn't starting Thursday's game against the Twins, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez had a hot start to the season but has gone just 1-for-9 with three walks and three strikeouts in the last three contests. He'll get what appears to be a routine day off Thursday while Franchy Cordero serves as the designated hitter, batting eighth.
Apr 11 2021Martinez went 4-for-6 with three home runs, four RBI, four runs and two strikeouts in Sunday's 14-9 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez missed Saturday's game against Baltimore due to cold symptoms, but he was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list for Sunday's series finale. He stayed hot at the plate in the win and recorded his third career three-homer game. The 33-year-old has tied a franchise record by recording eight consecutive games with extra-base hits to begin the season. Martinez now leads the majors with five home runs, seven doubles and 16 RBI this year.
Apr 10 2021Martinez (cold symptoms) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 33-year-old was withheld from Saturday's lineup due to cold symptoms, and he'll now be unavailable while on the COVID-IL. The specialized injured list doesn't have a minimum stay, so Martinez could make a quick return to the roster if he continues to test negative for the virus. Michael Chavis was recalled from the alternate training site in a corresponding move.
Apr 7 2021Martinez went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez reached base just once in four at-bats but made the most of his only knock, as he plated two of the team's nine runs with a double off Ryan Yarbrough. The veteran slugger has hit safely in all of his six games to date and has already recorded four multi-hit contests while also tallying two or more RBI in four games in a row. The 33-year-old designated hitter has been one of the hottest hitters in the American League during the first week of the season.
Apr 6 2021Martinez went 2-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI on Tuesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez played hero Tuesday night, driving in two runs in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Red Sox a walk-off win. The performance continued what has been a very hot start to the season for Martinez, as he has at least one extra-base hit in every contest while also racking up nine RBI and four runs scored across five games. Martinez appears to have put his forgettable 2020 campaign behind him, as he is hitting the ball with authority and has struck out only three times in 23 plate appearances.
Apr 5 2021Martinez went 2-for-3 with two walks, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's 11-2 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His eighth-inning blast off 2020 teammate Chris Mazza came when the game was well in hand. Martinez has an extra-base in all four games to begin the season and has already racked up two homers and six RBI after managing a disappointing seven home runs and 27 RBI in 54 games last year.
Apr 4 2021Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI in Sunday's loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has been the lone bright spot in Boston's lineup to start the year, looking like a 2019 version of himself rather than his 2020 self. The right-handed hitter was the only Red Sox batter to give Orioles starter Bruce Zimmerman trouble all day, smacking a solo shot off him in the fourth and hitting an RBI double in the sixth. The 33-year-old has a career .290/.354/.530 slash line and the Red Sox will benefit greatly if he can maintain consistency.
Apr 3 2021Martinez went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is off to a quick start following a disappointing 2020. He's hit safely in two games thus far, going 4-for-8 with two doubles. The Red Sox's bats have been kept quiet by Oriole pitching, which has limited Boston to two runs and nine hits over 18 innings.
Mar 26 2021Martinez (illness) is starting in right field and batting third in Friday's spring game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger was sidelined the past couple days due to food poisoning, but he's back in the lineup Friday. Martinez should take up his usual post at designated hitter for the Red Sox come Opening Day.
Mar 25 2021Martinez will sit for the second straight game Thursday against the Twins due to food poisoning, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per manager Alex Cora, Martinez has been sidelined after eating some bad sushi earlier in the week. His absence shouldn't last much longer, however, as he'll be able to hit on a back field Thursday.
Mar 24 2021Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's spring game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has extra-base hits in each of last two Grapefruit League games and is 11-for-41 with a .652 OPS over 14 spring contests. He's looking to bounce back from a miserable 2020 when he posted a .680 OPS over 54 games.
Mar 9 2021Martinez is scheduled to make his next Grapefruit League appearance in Wednesday's game against the Braves, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was initially listed as the Red Sox's designated hitter for Tuesday's game against the Rays, but manager Alex Cora had a change of heart and determined the 33-year-old would be better off getting a breather. Coming off a rough 2020 campaign, Martinez has turned in quality at-bats through his first four games of the spring, going 4-for-11 with a double, two RBI, three strikeouts and no walks.
Nov 1 2020Martinez will not opt out of the remaining two years on his contract with the Red Sox, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This seemed like a forgone conclusion, especially with Martinez coming off a down year. He is due $38.75 million over the next two years. The designated hitter, who turned 33 in August, slashed .213/.291/.389 with seven home runs in 54 games this season.
Sep 27 2020Martinez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez ends his trying 2020 season with a .213/.291/.389 batting line, seven homers, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored and one stolen base in 237 plate appearances. To nobody's surprise, Martinez is saying he's unlikely to opt out of his contract with the Red Sox this winter, as Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reported Friday.
Sep 22 2020Martinez went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has only hit .216 with a .684 OPS -- those are well below-average numbers for someone who has been one of the best hitters in the American League over the last few years. This was Martinez's fourth three-hit performance of the season and might be in line to end the season on a strong note since he's hit safely in four of the team's last six games.
Sep 19 2020Martinez went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts and a stolen base in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez had a night to forget at the plate, striking out four times in one game for the second time this season. The 33-year-old marginally helped his case by unexpectedly stealing third in extra innings but otherwise was lifeless offensively. With Friday's effort, Martinez's slash line has dipped to .199/.285/.358 as he has struggled all year to manufacture runs.
Sep 17 2020Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored Wednesday but the Red Sox lost to the Marlins 8-4. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez got the Red Sox on the board in the second with a sac fly to right and would eventually knock in two more after an opposite-field home run in the seventh. It was nice to see Martinez making some solid contact again after he went 1-for-28 in his last seven games. The 33-year-old is hitting .208/.289/.375 with a discouraging five home runs, 22 RBI and 16 runs scored through 44 games and will look to try and turn things around for the final stretch of the regular season.
Sep 11 2020Martinez is not in the lineup Friday against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is 0-for-16 with seven strikeouts and one walk over the past four games, so he'll take a seat for Friday's contest. Kevin Plawecki (hand) will bat fifth as the designated hitter in Tampa Bay.
Sep 5 2020Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a pair of walks in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez hit the first of three Red Sox homers in the second inning, a solo shot to tie the game at one. The 33-year-old has struggled at the plate this year with a .235/.323/.419 slash line, four homers, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored through 36 games. He's picked up the pace recently, going 9-for-24 (.375) with three RBI and two runs scored in his last six contests.
Sep 4 2020Martinez isn't in the lineup for the second game of Friday's twin bill against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to begin Friday's doubleheader and will sit for Game 2. Tzu-Wei Lin will start in left field in his place.
Sep 2 2020Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI on Wednesday against the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez had missed the team's past two games after being hit by a pitch on the hand. However, he showed no ill effects in his return to the lineup, driving an RBI double in the first inning. Four frames later, he added an RBI single. Overall, Martinez is hitting .218/.305/.387 with three home runs, 14 runs scored and 17 RBI across 141 plate appearances.
Sep 1 2020Martinez (hand) remains on the bench Tuesday against Atlanta, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's X-rays were negative after he got struck in the hand by a pitch Sunday against the Nationals, but he'll now sit for the second straight game. He's feeling better after some treatment, however, and could return to the lineup Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Yairo Munoz will serve as the designated hitter in his absence.
Aug 31 2020Martinez (hand) is not starting Monday's game against Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez left Sunday's game against the Nationals after getting hit by a pitch in the hand. While his X-rays were negative, he'll sit for at least one contest. Bobby Dalbec will get the nod as the designated hitter.
Aug 30 2020Martinez (hand) underwent X-rays that came back negative, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez was hit by a pitch on his left hand and forced out of Sunday's contest, but he appears to have avoided a major injury. Manager Ron Roenicke said after the game that Martinez is currently day-to-day.
Aug 22 2020Martinez went 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored as he helped the Red Sox to an 8-5 win over the Orioles on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was nice to see Martinez showcase his elite power as he cranked a two-out, two-run homer to center field in the third inning. Martinez has consistently been one of the best power hitters in baseball since 2015, so it's a bit unfitting seeing him with just three home runs in 25 games so far this season. He'll continue to be in the regular lineup and is going to be counted on to produce runs due to the fact that the Red Sox have the second-highest team ERA (5.97) in the majors.
Aug 20 2020Martinez (illness) is starting Thursday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez left Tuesday's game due to dehydration and was kept out Wednesday, but he'll be back in action for the series opener in Baltimore. Martinez is slashing .244/.330/.419 with two home runs, 12 RBI and 24 strikeouts to begin the season.
Aug 19 2020Martinez (illness) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez exited Tuesday's game due to dehydration. It's not exactly clear what the root of the issue is, but whatever it is, it's serious enough to sideline him for at least one day. Xander Bogaerts will rest his legs as the designated hitter in his absence, while Tzu-Wei Lin starts at shortstop.
Aug 18 2020Martinez was removed from Tuesday's game against the Phillies due to dehydration, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old went 1-for-2 with an RBI double before being lifted for a pinch hitter during the fifth inning. Martinez seems likely to return to action within a day or two.
Aug 16 2020Martinez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez's bat appears to be coming around following a slow start. He's 7-for-21 with three extra-base hits and eight RBI over the last six games. He believes he's located the root cause of his poor start, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "My hips are sliding," Martinez said. "Whenever your hips slide, you have to make decisions more out in front. Whenever you've got to make decisions more out in front, you don't recognize pitches. ... It's been my hips. Go to the source: the hips." Despite the mini-surge, Martinez is batting .234/.322/.416, numbers well below is career standards.
Aug 13 2020Martinez went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 14 games without a long ball to begin the season, Martinez now has homers in two of his last three. Earlier this season, Martinez lamented MLB's new restrictions on communal video terminals. He told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, "In the past I probably already would have been able to get in the video room, break [struggling teammate Andrew Benintendi's] swing down, look at it, do some comparisons. It's kind of what I do for most of the guys on the team. We don't have access to any of that stuff anymore. It's kind of everyone on their own. Survivor." While Martinez can no longer go to the video terminal in the clubhouse during games to examine the mechanics of his swing and make adjustments, this is a player coming off six straight highly-productive seasons and we expect he will be able to make do.
Aug 10 2020Martinez went 3-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It took 15 games, but the 32-year-old slugger finally connected on his first homer of 2020. Seven of Martinez's 11 hits coming into Monday were doubles, however, so it was only a matter of time before one went over the fence. On the season, he's now hitting .233 with four RBI, but don't be surprised if Monday's blast marks the beginning of a hot streak for Martinez.
Aug 1 2020Martinez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez had started in each of Boston's first eight games this season, but he'll take a seat after going 7-for-32 with three extra-base hits, four runs and three RBI to begin the season. Kevin Pillar will serve as the designated hitter and bat second Saturday.
Jul 24 2020Martinez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI, two runs scored, and a walk during Friday's 13-2 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez created havoc hitting in front of Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, but the entire Red Sox lineup produced at a high level -- Martinez was one of four Boston players to record three or more hits. The veteran slugger kicked off the season in style after hitting for .304 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI in 2019.
Jul 22 2020Martinez batted second in the order during Tuesday's exhibition game against the Blue Jays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was a surprise maneuver by Boston manager Ron Roenicke, who a day earlier had tagged Rafael Devers as the team's likely No. 2 hitter. But the manager is apparently reconsidering deploying two lefties in a row at the top of the order. "The reason being simply because we have [Andrew] Benintendi followed with Devers and we know that gives the opponent the opportunity to bring in a left-hander against them, and this breaks it up and makes it tough now," Roenicke said. Martinez, who has batted third or fourth since joining Boston, stepped in behind left-handed-hitting leadoff batter Andrew Benintendi against Toronto right-hander Nate Pearson. It's unclear if Martinez will occupy the two-hole every game or only when a lefty hitter is leading off, but the move is in line with a trend of having a team's most dangerous hitter batting second. "This is something that I don't know for a fact, but this is something that the analytics people tell me," said Roenicke. "For whatever reason, the second spot in your lineup is the most important spot in your lineup."
Jul 13 2020Martinez launched a home run Sunday, his second in four intrasquad games during summer camp, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a normal 162-game season that would begin during cooler months in the northeast, Martinez's power would not be as dialed in as it appears to be now leading up to the 2020 season. "J.D.'s not a traditional fast starter so he's always telling me, 'I need as many at-bats as I can get because in spring training, it just takes me a long time,'" manager Ron Roenicke said Sunday. "I'm not seeing that right now. He's really good. He's going the other way. The offspeed, he's pulling. He's hit a couple home runs on them." Since joining Boston in 2018, Martinez has slugged .534 with nine home runs in 54 games during March/April. Those metrics get better in the warmer months: May (.645, 20 HR in 51 games), June (.611, 14 in 49), July (.564, 12 in 46) and August (.726, 17 in 52). The lesson here is that Martinez should be hitting for power early in the season.
Mar 5 2020Martinez went 2-for-3 with three-run home run in Wednesday's spring game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The homer was Martinez's second of spring training and third extra-base knock in four hits. Entering his age-32 season, Martinez is still an elite and productive hitter.
Nov 4 2019Martinez will not exercise the opt-out in his contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez evidently didn't feel as though he could make more than the $62.5 million he's due over the next three seasons on the open market. He remains an excellent hitter, but there's understandably some uncertainty about the market for a 32-year-old designated hitter. He has opt-outs remaining after each of the next two seasons, so there's still no guarantee he remains in Boston through the end of the 2022 season.
Sep 28 2019Martinez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo homer in Saturday's loss to Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The homer was Martinez's first in three full weeks, a rare drought for the veteran slugger. He'd hit just .255/.350/.294 in the 14 games since his previous home run. His .305/.383/.559 slash line on the season is still quite strong, but represents a significant drop-off from the .330/.402/.629 mark he recorded in 2018, especially considering how the league's overall offense has increased between the two seasons.
Sep 27 2019Martinez is not in the lineup Friday against Baltimore, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has gone 10-for-21 with seven RBI over his last five games. Mookie Betts will return from a foot injury but only as a designated hitter Friday, bumping Martinez to the bench.
Sep 25 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 12-10 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez produced a run-scoring single in his first at-bat of the day before coming around to score in what was a four-run first inning for the Red Sox. He drove in two more runs with another single in the fifth inning, marking his fifth and sixth RBI over the past three games. Martinez is 6-for-13 (.462) with three runs scored and a 2:3 BB:K over that stretch.
Sep 23 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs Sunday in the Red Sox's 7-4 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After missing three games with a groin injury, Martinez returned to the lineup for the final two contests of the weekend and didn't take long to begin raking again. While Martinez hasn't reported any setbacks with the groin coming out of either of his back-to-back starts, the Red Sox may choose to exercise caution with his usage anyway over the season's final week with the team already eliminated from postseason contention.
Sep 21 2019Martinez (groin) will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup Saturday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has not yet been cleared to return to the outfield, but he is well enough to DH, and that's really all that matters for our purposes. While the 32-year-old has been struggling in September (.133 average), he still has a .301 average and .944 OPS for the season.
Sep 20 2019Martinez (groin) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Friday was thought to be the earliest Martinez could possibly return from his bout of groin tightness. He will end up sitting for the series opener in Tampa Bay, as the Red Sox go with Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley and Brock Holt in the outfield and Mookie Betts (foot) at DH.
Sep 18 2019Martinez (groin) is not expected to return before the weekend, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez left Tuesday's game early due to groin tightness. His absence Wednesday against the Giants is considered precautionary, but there's little reason for the Red Sox not to proceed with caution in what has seemingly become a lost season.
Sep 17 2019Martinez exited Tuesday's game with left groin tightness and is day-to-day, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before suffering the injury. Sam Travis replaced him before suffering his own injury.
Sep 7 2019Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez hit his 35th homer of the season to avert a shutout with a ninth-inning 397-foot shot off Aroldis Chapman. The 32-year-old now has 12 home runs since the beginning of August and has improved his slash line to .310/.387/.581 in 516 at-bats for the season.
Sep 2 2019Martinez went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Sep 1 2019Martinez went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 10-4 loss to the Angels.
Aug 31 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, an RBI double and two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Angels.
Aug 28 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and another run scored during Wednesday's win over the Rockies.
Aug 25 2019Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to San Diego on Sunday.
Aug 23 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with a pair of three-run home runs and another RBI in Friday's 11-0 rout of the Padres.
Aug 19 2019Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double, a run and two RBI in Sunday's 13-7 win over the Orioles.
Aug 12 2019Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, two runs scored and a walk in Monday's 6-5 loss to Cleveland.
Aug 9 2019Martinez went 4-for-5 with two home runs, two doubles, four RBI and four runs scored Friday against the Angels.
Aug 6 2019Martinez (back) will slot in as the designated hitter and bat third Tuesday against Kansas City, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Aug 5 2019Martinez was scratched from the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals due to a back issue, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
Jul 31 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to the Rays.
Jul 28 2019Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Yankees.
Jul 28 2019Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Yankees.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 26 2019Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, triple and three RBI in a 10-5 victory against the Yankees on Friday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 26 2019Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and three RBI in a 10-5 victory over the Yankees on Friday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 22 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI in Monday's 9-4 win over the Rays.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Martinez went 2-for-6 with a solo home run in a loss to the Dodgers on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Martinez is not in the lineup<\/a> against the Tigers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Martinez is not in the lineup Saturday<\/a> against the Tigers,Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 5 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 8-7 win over the Blue Jays.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs in a 12-8 loss to the Yankees on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs in a 12-8 loss against the Yankees at London Stadium on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs in a 12-8 loss against the Yankees on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 27 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the White Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Martinez went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Friday's 7-5 win over the Blue Jays in 10 innings.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Martinez went 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Twins in 17 innings.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019Martinez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-2 win over Baltimore.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019Martinez went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two walks in Friday's win over the Orioles.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 11 2019Martinez went 2-for-3 with a walk in Monday's 4-3 extra-innings loss to Texas.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 10 2019Martinez is back in action Monday against Texas after missing four straight games due to back spasms, Ian Browne of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 9 2019Though Martinez (back) was on the bench for a fourth straight game in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Rays, manager Alex Cora said the slugger's condition is improving, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com<\/a> reports. \"He's feeling better but he's not ready to play,\" Cora said. \"So stay away from him. And hopefully [Monday versus the Rangers] or during the week [he'll play].\"Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 9 2019Martinez (back) remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 8 2019Martinez (back) is not in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays and is unlikely to play in the nightcap, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 8 2019Martinez (back) will remain on the bench for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 8 2019Martinez (back) is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays and is unlikely to play in the nightcap, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 7 2019Martinez (back) is not starting Friday against the Rays, Ian Browne of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 7 2019Martinez is not starting Friday against the Rays, Ian Browne of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Martinez was removed from Thursday's game against the Royals due to back spasms, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2019Martinez went 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and two runs in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Royals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2019Martinez went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Royals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run in Sunday's win at Yankee Stadium.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 27 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with two home runs in a 12-5 win over the Indians on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Martinez (back) will serve as the Red Sox's designated hitter and bat cleanup Sunday against the Astros, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Martinez (back) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter and drew a two-out walk in a 4-3 loss to the Astros.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 25 2019Martinez is back on the bench<\/a> Saturday against the Astros.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 24 2019Martinez (back\/illness) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 23 2019Martinez (back\/illness) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 22 2019Martinez, who is sitting for a third straight day Wednesday, is dealing with a sore back in addition to the illness that bothered him early in the week, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 22 2019Martinez (illness) will sit for the third straight game Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 21 2019Martinez is sick, which is why he is out of the lineup for the second day in a row Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 21 2019Martinez is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Blue Jays for the second day in a row, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 20 2019Martinez is not starting Monday against Toronto, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Martinez went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 14 2019Martinez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, three RBI and three runs in an 11-2 victory against the Mariners on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 7 2019Martinez went 1-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and two walks in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Orioles.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 loss at Baltimore.The performance brings Martinez's MLB-leading home run total 31, and his 85 RBI also rank first by a considerable margin. The 30-year-old is showing no ill affects off the upper-body soreness that kept him out of Saturday's contest after crashing into the outfield wall Friday. Martinez has a .323/.387/.644 slash line in 368 at-bats this season.
Jul 23 2018Martinez (upper body) went 0-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Tigers.Martinez plated his MLB-leading 81st run in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly. The Red Sox held Martinez out of Saturday's contest due to upper-body soreness, but his return to the starting nine a day later suggests he'll likely be a safe option in fantasy lineups during the upcoming week.
Jul 22 2018Martinez (upper body) will serve as the Red Sox's designated hitter and bat third Sunday against the Tigers, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.The Red Sox held Martinez out of Saturday's lineup while he recovered from upper-body soreness after crashing into the outfield wall in the series opener, but there was never much concern about the slugger's health. After completing a workout without issue Sunday, Martinez was cleared to reclaim his usual role as the DH and should be on tap for a full slate of starts during the upcoming week.
Jul 21 2018Martinez (upper body) expects to be in Sunday's starting lineup against the Tigers, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.Martinez was held out of the lineup Saturday due to upper body soreness after he crashed into the wall on a running catch Friday night. The true test will come Sunday morning to see whether the 30-year-old is still experiencing any soreness, but at this point plan on the Red Sox's slugger returning to the lineup.
Jul 21 2018Martinez is not in Saturday's lineup as he is dealing with soreness after colliding with an outfield wall Friday night, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.Martinez made a running catch into the wall in right-center field during the third inning Friday, although he did not exit the game. The 30-year-old is apparently experiencing general body soreness after the collision but will not undergo additional testing. Martinez should be considered day-to-day for the time being.
Jul 21 2018Martinez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.Martinez will head to the bench Saturday just one game removed from the All-Star break. The 30-year-old did make a running catch into the wall during the third inning Friday but there has been no indication of an injury as of yet. Steve Pearce will serve as designated hitter for the Red Sox on Saturday.
Jul 9 2018Martinez (foot, calf) is starting in right field and hitting third Monday against the Rangers, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.Not only are his left calf and right foot healthy enough for him to start the first game of this series, but he'll be asked to patrol the outfield. He was withheld from Sunday's game as a precaution, and hopefully he can avoid aggravating either minor injury prior to the All-Star break.
Jul 9 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and two runs scored in Monday's shutout victory over the Rangers.Martinez extended Boston's lead in the eighth inning with a home run, his third long ball of July. He's put together five straight multi-hit games, tallying five extra-base hits and 10 RBI over that span. Martinez is batting .331 with 77 RBI and an outstanding 1.047 OPS through 86 games this season.
Jul 8 2018Martinez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.The Red Sox haven't indicated that Martinez is dealing with any sort of physical issue, so it appears he's merely getting a rest again Sunday, despite receiving the day off six days earlier against the Nationals. In between the two days off, Martinez has remained scorching hot at the plate, delivering two-hit performances in each of his four starts. Steve Pearce will serve as Boston's designated hitter in the series finale with Martinez on the bench.
Jul 8 2018Martinez is being held out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals due to a sore left calf and sore right foot, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.Martinez fouled pitches off both of his legs during Saturday's blowout victory, so manager Alex Cora decided it was prudent to give the slugger a day out of the lineup to rest. Cora noted that Martinez would still be available off the bench to pinch hit Sunday and would likely rejoin the lineup Monday against the Rangers.
Jul 6 2018Martinez went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and two runs to help Boston to a 10-5 victory over Kansas City on Friday.Martinez just continues to rake at an epic clip in his first season in Boston, with this second-inning blast off Jason Hammel giving him a league-leading 27 long balls on the season. He's one of the most complete pure hitters in baseball, as demonstrated by his impeccable .328/.392/.647 slash line, and there's little reason to believe he won't remain as such throughout the rest of the season.
Jul 3 2018Martinez went 2-for-5 two runs scored, a home run, and four RBI in Tuesday's 11-4 win at Washington.Martinez finished June with a .347/.425/.612 slash line with seven home runs and 20 RBI, and has shown now sign of slowing down. The 31-year-old leads the majors with 26 home runs and 71 RBI through 87 games.
Jul 2 2018Martinez will get a rare day off Monday against the Nationals.As expected, Martinez will miss at least one game while Boston plays in a National League park. He's likely to make a pair of starts in the outfield Tuesday and Wednesday, with Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley expected to get days off.
Jul 2 2018Martinez will play the outfield in two of the three games the Red Sox are playing in Washington against the Nationals, Bill Koch of the Providence Journal reports.Playing in a National League city, the Red Sox are without the luxury of using a designated hitter, the role in which Martinez served during all three games against the Yankees over the weekend. Manager Alex Cora will juggle his outfield for the series in Washington, as both Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley will also sit one of the three games.
Jun 30 2018Martinez went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored Saturday during Boston's win over the Yankees.Martinez joined the Red Sox's party against Sonny Gray and the mop-up members of New York's bullpen. While he didn't leave the yard in this one, the three-hit effort broke his 0-or-7 slide from his previous two contests, and he keeps his perch as the major-league leader with 25 homers while increasing his MLB-best RBI total to 67. It's been another phenomenal season for the 30-year-old that should book him for an All-Star spot.
Jun 27 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and a pair of runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Angels.Martinez delivered a three-run shot in the second inning, the final blow in the six-run frame. The 30-year-old has been an absolute beast in his first year in Boston, leading the league in both home runs (25) and RBI (64) to go along with a .329/.396/.654 slash line.
Jun 22 2018Martinez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and five RBI in Friday's 14-10 win over the Mariners.He now has 23 homers on the year, including five in June to go along with a .343 (24-for-70) batting average through 19 games on the month. As expected, Martinez is thriving in the heart of a Red Sox offense that is among the most dangerous in the league, and the 30-year-old only needs to stay healthy to top last year's career-high 45 home runs and 104 RBI.
Jun 9 2018Martinez (back) will DH and bat third against the White Sox on Saturday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.As expected, Martinez is back in the starting lineup after sitting Friday due to back tightness. Manager Alex Cora confirmed that he isn't concerned over Martinez's status moving forward, so continue to expect huge production out of the slugger.
Jun 9 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-2 win over the White Sox.The back issue that kept him on the bench Friday doesn't appear as though it'll be a long-term concern given Martinez's performance upon his return. His 21 homers puts the 30-year-old two ahead of Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Jose Ramirez for the big-league lead.
Jun 8 2018Martinez (back) was held out of Friday's lineup against the White Sox, Sean McAdam of the BostonSportsJournal.com reports.Manager Alex Cora seemed optimistic that Martinez would be able to play following Thursday's exit with back tightness, but it seems as though the outfielder would benefit from receiving a day off to recover. In his place, Brock Holt will get a start in right field and bat second. Consider Martinez day-to-day for Saturday's game, with a chance that he will be available off the bench if needed during Friday's tilt.
Jun 8 2018Manager Alex Cora said Martinez (back) will return to the starting lineup for Saturday's game, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.Although there's a chance that Martinez will not feel well enough to play Saturday, this is another positive sign that his back tightness is just a minor blip on the radar and nothing more after the 30-year-old was forced to exit Thursday's contest. Through 60 games this year, he's hitting a robust .314/.374/.646 with 20 home runs and 52 RBI.
Jun 8 2018Martinez was removed early from Thursday's game with tightness in his back, but manager Alex Cora expects him to play Friday, Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.Martinez started in right field Thursday before being replaced by Brock Holt. This was the second time this week that Martinez left a game with back issues, which is something to monitor in the coming days.
Jun 7 2018Martinez was removed from Thursday's game against the Tigers with minor back tightness, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.Manager Alex Cora put Brock Holt in for Martinez to start the eighth inning, but the reason behind the move wasn't made known until after the game. Martinez experienced back spasms Sunday against Houston as well, so this is the second time in a week that his back has given him trouble. Fortunately, Thursday's back issue is reportedly not as severe as what he dealt with against the Astros. Still, it'll be worth monitoring his status Friday before Boston's series opener against the White Sox.
Jun 5 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Tigers.Martinez, a former Detroiter, touched his old team early, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning which is all Steven Wright needed. The long ball was his fifth in the last 10 games, and he became the first player in the majors to reach 20 home runs. He had left his previous game with back spasms, but it looks like that was a precautionary move, as Martinez didn't miss any time.
Jun 5 2018Martinez (back) is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's matchup against Detroit, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.Martinez exited Sunday's tilt with back spasms, but it appears he's good to go, as he's slated to start in the series opener. He's penciled into the lineup as the designated hitter and will bat third.
Jun 3 2018Martinez exited Sunday's game against the Astros early with back spasms, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.Upon leaving the game, Martinez was shown pointing to his back while talking to the team trainer. It was later revealed that he was suffering from back spasms, although manager Alex Cora stated he doesn't believe it's a big issue and Martinez is expected to play Tuesday. He was lifted in place of Sam Travis, who hit a two-RBI single in the ninth inning.
Jun 2 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 win over Houston.Martinez delivered a pair of RBI-singles off Astros starter Justin Verlander, who allowed multiple runs for just the third time this season. Martinez has put together a monster first two months, giving him a realistic shot at the Triple Crown. He's tied for the MLB lead in homers (19), leads in RBI (50) and is 13th in average (.321).
May 30 2018Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Blue Jays.Martinez crushed his 18th homer of the season -- a 434-foot no-doubter over the Green Monster -- to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning. The two runs knocked in put him atop MLB with 47 RBI. He's been a difference maker in the middle of Boston's lineup this season, the piece that was missing from last year's team that finished 27th in home runs.
May 28 2018Martinez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo homer and an additional RBI in Monday's win over the Blue Jays.Martinez put the Red Sox on the board in the first inning with a fielder's choice before adding to the lead with his solo shot off Aaron Sanchez in the fifth inning. The 30-year-old is now hitting an impressive .320/.379/.650 with 17 homers -- tied with teammate Mookie Betts (side) for second most in the league behind Mike Trout -- and 44 RBI across 51 games this season.
May 27 2018Martinez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Braves, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.The Red Sox's decision Friday to remove Hanley Ramirez from the 40-man roster should limit Martinez almost exclusively to designated-hitter duties going forward, but manager Alex Cora evidently felt the slugger could benefit from a day off in the series finale nonetheless. With Martinez on the pine Sunday after going 2-for-19 over his previous five starts, Rafael Devers will serve as Boston's DH, thereby opening up third base for Eduardo Nunez.
May 26 2018Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 6-2 victory for the Red Sox over the Braves on Friday.Martinez had just one hit in his last 11 at-bats coming into this contest but he dispatched of the brief lull in short order by launching his 16th home run with a fourth-inning blast off Julio Teheran. He now has a brilliant .326/.381/.653 slash line through 190 at-bats in his inaugural campaign with the Red Sox.
May 20 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and one walk in Sunday's 5-0 victory over the Orioles.Martinez hit a solo home run in the second inning followed by a two-run blast in the fifth which gave Boston a 5-0 lead. He's been tearing the cover off the ball through 45 games this season, putting together a .343/.397/.680 batting line and showing impressive power with 15 home runs and 41 RBI. Martinez is showing no signs of slowing down as the Red Sox head to Tampa Bay for a three-game series.
May 18 2018Martinez (illness) will DH and bat in the cleanup position against Baltimore on Friday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.Martinez was removed from Thursday's game due to a stomach illness but as expected, the slugger won't be forced to miss any additional time. Over 42 games this season, he's slashing .344/.394/.656 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.
May 17 2018Martinez is expected to play Friday despite leaving Thursday's game due to a stomach illness, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.Manager Alex Cora confirmed it after Thursday's win, so JDM's fantasy managers can breathe easier. Martinez had cracked a two-run homer before heading to the sidelines, and Boston seemingly was taking precaution with their masher.
May 17 2018Martinez left Thursday's game against the Orioles due to a stomach illness.Martinez might have made the Orioles sicker than the stomach bug made him, cranking a shot deep over the center field wall in the first inning to give the Sox a two-run lead. Blake Swihart replaced him in the game, though Martinez was in there for three at-bats and Boston had a big lead, so it seems the slugger has a decent chance at returning for Friday's second game of the series vs. the O's.
May 17 2018Martinez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Athletics.Martinez's first-inning home run gave the Red Sox an early cushion and was his 12th of the season. If it seems like Martinez is bashing homers every other day, that's because he's hit seven over the last 14 games. After a cold start to the season, Martinez has hit .388/.442/.716 since April 13 and is now tied for second in MLB with 36 RBI.
May 13 2018Martinez went 2-for-3 three two-run home run and three RBI to help the Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday.Martinez kept right on rolling with another long ball - his 10th of the year in 149 at-bats. The 30-year-old slugger has been absolutely dynamite since getting off to a relatively slow start and he's now got a ridiculous 1.018 OPS to kick off his first year with the Red Sox. The fact that his .624 slugging percentage is actually lower than the .690 mark he posted in his 119 games split between Detroit and Arizona last year speaks to how good Martinez has been over the last couple of years and suggests that there shouldn't be cause for much worry about a substantial amount of regression from the absurd numbers he's currently posting.
May 10 2018Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI Thursday against the Yankees.Martinez blasted the game-winning home run off Dellin Betances in the eighth inning, his ninth home run of the season. His power is slowly picking up as he now has four home runs in his past eight games while also adding two doubles in the span. He is also riding an 11 game-hitting streak which has him hitting .348/.395/.623 through 138 at-bats this season.
May 6 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, one RBI and one walk during Sunday's 6-1 win over the Rangers.Martinez continues to swing a hot bat at the dish, as he slugged his eighth home run of the season Sunday. He's slashing .349/.396/.619 with 27 RBI and 17 extra-base hits through 32 games this season. The 30-year-old will look to keep it rolling as the Red Sox begin a three-game showdown with the Yankees on Tuesday.
May 4 2018Martinez went 2-for-5 in Thursday's 11-5 loss to the Rangers.Martinez aggravated a left thumb injury Wednesday, but was in the lineup Thursday and posted his sixth multi-hit game over the past eight. During that eight-game run, Martinez is hitting .469 (15-for-32), so the thumb, which was originally hurt in early April, has not been a factor.
May 3 2018Martinez (thumb) will play left field against the Rangers on Thursday, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports.Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's victory but admitted after the game that he aggravated his sore left thumb during an at-bat in the fifth inning. He initially injured the thumb in mid-April against the Yankees but hasn't been forced to miss any time with the issue. It doesn't seem to have any impact on his performance, as he's hitting .343/.392/.593 with six home runs and 24 RBI this year.
May 3 2018Martinez aggravated his sore left thumb during Wednesday's game against the Royals, Michael Silverman and Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald report.Martinez said the injury happened while swinging at a pitch in the fifth inning. He initially jammed the thumb during the series against the Yankees early last month and has been fighting it ever since. "It's gotten better, it goes away and then it comes back. All it takes is one swing," said Martinez, whose thumb and left hand were wrapped up after the game. He plans to continue to play through the pain, which hasn't had too much impact on his production. Martinez has a .985 OPS with six home runs and 24 RBI over 28 games.
Apr 29 2018Martinez went 4-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's victory over the Rays.Martinez shook off Saturday's three strikeout, 0-for-4 performance with a terrific outing Sunday. Martinez has been excellent so far this season and is slashing .330/.374/.567 after 25 games. He also has 22 RBI, a mark that figures to climb as he continues hitting in Boston's potent lineup.
Apr 26 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Boston's 5-4 victory over Toronto on Thursday.Martinez got off to a relatively slow start with his new club but that can be considered a thing of the past as his fifth-inning blast off Marco Estrada brought his slash line up to .306/.351/.565 with five home runs and 18 RBI. He looks primed for another prolific power-hitting campaign coming off his 2017 season split between Detroit and Arizona, when he clubbed 45 home runs and slugged a ridiculous .690 in only 119 games.
Apr 21 2018Martinez will serve as designated hitter and bat cleanup against the Athletics on Saturday, Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.Martinez received the day off Friday after being lifted for a pinch runner late in Thursday's game, but there was never any indication of an injury. The 30-year-old will look to continue with his hot bat, and is 13-for-24 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI over his last six games.
Apr 20 2018Martinez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the A's, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.Martinez was lifted for a pinch runner in the eighth inning of Thursday's game after his second double of the night, but there has been no word of an injury to this point. Hanley Ramirez will serve as the designated hitter in the series opener against righty Kendall Graveman, with Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley and Mookie Betts in the outfield from left to right.
Apr 20 2018Martinez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Angels.It's easy to miss an individual's contributions when a team starts the season at 16-2, tops in MLB, and Martinez is one of them. One week ago, he was batting .227, but has put on a show since. He's 13-for-24 (.542) with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI over the past six games. Boston's starting pitching has been elite and Mookie Betts is tearing up the league, but Martinez has gone under the radar to raise his average 111 points over the past week and is looking comfortable in the middle of the order after a slow start, leading the league in hard contact (65.3 percent).
Apr 14 2018Martinez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an RBI single Saturday against the Orioles.It may not have been a grand slam like Wednesday's blast was, but Martinez continues to swing a hot bat for the Red Sox. The team's biggest offseason acquisition is now hitting .283 with three homers and 13 RBI, putting him well on pace for another season of 30-plus home runs and over 100 RBI.
Apr 11 2018Martinez went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 10-7 loss to the Yankees.It's his second homer of the season, and while Martinez's batting average is still a sluggish .250 (10-for-40) he has driven in 10 runs in 10 games. The 30-year-old is locked into the cleanup spot in one of MLB's better offenses, and Martinez should continue to produce big numbers as long as he can stay healthy.
Apr 7 2018Martinez went 1-for-2 with a homer, two runs and two RBI Saturday against the Rays.Martinez's first Red Sox homer was a seventh-inning solo shot off Chaz Roe. He also drove in a run on a first-inning sacrifice fly. His opening six games had been something of a disappointment, as he'd hit .240/.296/.360. It's still very early, though, so the slugger has plenty of time to get on a roll and climb back up near the top of the home run leaderboard.
Apr 2 2018Martinez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.With no designated hitter spot available in the Marlins' ballpark, Martinez will head to the bench for the first time all season. He's already picked up a pair of starts in the outfield, so look for him to rejoin the lineup as the team's left fielder for Tuesday's contest.
Apr 1 2018Martinez started in left field for a second consecutive day and went 1-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rays.Martinez, who got his first hit in a Red Sox uniform Saturday, knocked in his first run Sunday. He's off to a slow start, going 3-for-15 over the first four games of the season, something that can be attributed to a late start after signing at the end of February. He talked about his timing being off, so it's important manager Alex Cora get Martinez regular at-bats while handing out rest days to others. We expect to see Martinez in the lineup regularly, whether at designated hitter for left field.
Apr 1 2018Martinez started in left field Saturday and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in 3-2 win over the Rays.Saturday's game was a couple of first for Martinez: it was his first time in the field after two games as the designated hitter, and he got his first hit of the season. Manager Alex Cora will utilize Martinez, Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland in a rotation at first base and DH, but will also have Martinez hit left field to spell one of the team's outfielders from time to time.
Mar 22 2018Martinez went 2-for-3 with three RBI in Wednesday's game against the Rays, but admitted his timing at the plate is still behind schedule, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.Martinez had a late start to camp, signing with Boston in late February and making his spring debut one week into March. "It's getting there," Martinez said. "The results were there [Wednesday] but that's kind of not me. When I'm getting hits to the left side of the field and those top-spin liners, for me I know I'm not there yet. When I'm hitting balls in the air, up the middle or the other way is when I'm feeling good." Martinez is hitting .276 with a .714 OPS in just 29 spring at-bats.
Mar 19 2018Martinez will get a decent amount of time in the outfield, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.Martinez is primarily expected to be Boston's designated hitter, but the team intends to play him occasionally in the outfield in order to open up at-bats for Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland. Boston also hopes that more rotation will keep players fresh deeper into the season. Martinez's poor outfield defense won't hurt his fantasy value, and owners in dynasty leagues will be happy to see him keep his outfield eligibility for at least one more season.
Mar 7 2018Martinez will play left field in Wednesday's game against the Twins, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.This will be Martinez's debut in a spring-training game, but he has participated in two controlled minor-league games. He homered off Rick Porcello on Monday and has five hits, three RBI and four walks in the two simulated sessions. While he'll be playing the field Wednesday, Martinez is expected to get most of his playing time as Boston's designated hitter.
Feb 26 2018Martinez and the Red Sox have finally signed the contract Monday which they appeared to have agreed upon one week prior, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.The terms of the deal are reportedly unchanged. Boston was apparently extra thorough in their medical evaluation but did not uncover anything which would cause them to rework the deal. Both sides also worked to add extra protective contract language to the deal over the weekend, but the basic structure of the deal (5 years, $110 million with opt-outs after the second and third seasons) remains the same.
Feb 25 2018Martinez is still expected to sign with the Res Sox, despite a recent delay due to a medical matter, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.A physical revealed an undisclosed issue that could potentially impact Martinez later in his career. Fortunately, there are no concerns that Martinez won't be able to play the upcoming season at full strength. However, due to the findings at Martinez's recent physical, certain details of the contract needed to be altered. The delay appears to be coming to an end, as Boston could formally announce the signing as early as Monday.
Feb 24 2018Martinez's signing with the Red Sox has been delayed by a medical matter, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.We are expected to learn more about the undisclosed medical matter as early as Saturday, however, a baseball source with knowledge of the situation said the situation would not have an impact on Martinez's immediate future. Additional medical experts are involved as the team and Martinez work through the issue, including experts consulted by the player's agent, Scott Boras. The source described the process between the team and player as cooperative.
Feb 19 2018Martinez signed with Boston on Monday, Pedro Gomez of ESPN reports.The long-rumored deal has finally been signed, and Boston now has the power bat they've coveted all offseason. Moving from Chase Field to anywhere other than Colorado represents a downgrade in terms of park factors, but the move should still be a fine one for Martinez's fantasy value. While the Green Monster may depress Martinez's home run total a bit, his overall production should remain quite strong in a solid Red Sox lineup. Expect big things from the 30-year-old slugger in Boston this year.
Jan 11 2018Martinez, who has been offered a five-year contract by the Red Sox and may have an offer from at least one other club, is reportedly willing to "hold out" into spring training in order to earn a more desirable deal, according to Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com.Martinez received the offer from Boston weeks earlier and remains in a stalemate in negotiations with the club, perhaps opening the door for other teams to court the outfielder, who is regarded as one of the top available hitters on the market. Sources informed Heyman that Martinez is seeking $30 million-plus annually in any contract, but it's believed that teams interested in him have fallen well short of meeting those demands. Until Martinez adjusts his contract expectations or teams are willing to improve their offers, it appears the 30-year-old won't find a new home anytime soon, thereby clouding his fantasy outlook a bit for early drafters.
Sep 28 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Giants.The home run was Martinez's 45th of the season and 16th of September, tying the National League record established in 1949 by Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. During the month-long heater, Martinez is slashing .418/.455/1.022 with 36 RBI and 26 runs, likely swinging the tide in many fantasy matchups down the stretch.
Sep 27 2017Martinez went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and six RBI in Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Giants.He did all his damage in the first two innings off lefty Matt Moore, ripping a two-run double in the first before launching a grand slam in the second for his 44th homer of the season, and 28th in 58 games since coming over from the Tigers. Should the D-backs make any noise in the postseason, particularly against the Dodgers' southpaw-heavy rotation, their trade deadline acquisition of Martinez will end up being the smartest transaction of the year.
Sep 25 2017Martinez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.Martinez will get Monday off after the Diamondbacks locked up home-field advantage for the NL wild-card game with Sunday's walkoff win. In his place, Jeremy Hazelbaker will start in right field.
Sep 24 2017Martinez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and walk in Saturday's 12-6 win over the Marlins.The fifth-inning home run was Martinez's 43rd of the season and 14th of September, establishing a new franchise record for any month. In addition to the exceptional power production, Martinez is hitting .397 on the month, making him an exceptional four-category performer worth leaning on in daily contests while he remains locked in.
Sep 23 2017Martinez went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, three runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 13-11 win over the Marlins.He's been almost unstoppable in September, slashing .400/.439/1.000 in 18 games with 13 homers and 27 RBI. Despite missing a significant amount of time with the Tigers earlier in the year due to a foot injury suffered late in spring training, Martinez has still set a new career high with 42 home runs and is only five RBI shy of hitting the century mark for the second time.
Sep 21 2017Martinez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 13-7 win over the Padres.Martinez's 41st homer of the season helped tie things up a 6-6 in the sixth inning, helping the Diamondbacks climb out of an early hole. With 12 long balls in 17 September contests, Martinez is already tied for third in National League history for home runs during the season's final month. With eight games still to go on the month, Martinez will take aim at surpassing the record total of 15 taters that Troy Tulowitzki hit as a member of the Rockies in September 2010.
Sep 18 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Giants.Martinez produced the D-backs' only runs of the night with a two-run blast in the sixth inning, which was his career-best 40th of the season. The 30-year-old ranks third in baseball behind Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge in home runs, and perhaps more impressively, all that power production has come since May 12, as Martinez missed the first month and change of the season while recovering from a mid-foot sprain he suffered in spring training. Had health prevailed all season, Martinez may have joined Stanton in making a run at becoming a member of the 60-homer club.
Sep 16 2017Martinez (neck) is back in the lineup Saturday against the Giants.A bout of neck stiffness resulted in Martinez's scratch from Friday's lineup, but apparently the discomfort has already subsided. He's batting fifth against lefty Madison Bumgarner and Martinez has absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching this season (.402/.485/.939). Martinez is tied for third overall in home runs this year with 39 despite missing nearly six weeks at the start of the season with a foot injury.
Sep 15 2017Martinez was scratched from Friday's game against the Giants with left neck stiffness.At this point, it doesn't sound like the injury is serious. Consider Martinez day-to-day until the club provides a further update to his status. Martinez was replaced in the outfield by Gregor Blanco.
Sep 14 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored Thursday against the Rockies.Six of Arizona's first seven batters got on base with Martinez being the lone exception, but he more than made up for that shortcoming by going deep in his next at-bat. The former Detroit slugger has now launched 23 home runs in 49 games with Arizona, which amounts to a 76-homer pace over a 162-game season. GM Mike Hazen deserves a pat on the back for acquiring Martinez for pennies on the dollar prior to the trade deadline.
Sep 14 2017Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs and an RBI in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Rockies.Martinez's red-hot September continues, with the slugging outfielder submitting a .447/.481/1.128 slash line over 11 games. He's failed to record an extra-base hit in just two of those contests and has racked up 19 RBI and 16 runs.
Sep 12 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a double in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Rockies.Martinez went deep off starter Jon Gray in the fourth inning and added a double to lead off the ninth. The trade deadline acquisition from Detroit has been among the hottest hitters in baseball with 12 home runs and five doubles for a total of 17 extra-base hits in his past 15 games.
Sep 12 2017Martinez went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, a stolen base and an RBI in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Rockies.Fresh off earning National League Player of the Week honors after homering seven times in the previous six contests, Martinez continued to rake Monday, turning in his third straight multi-hit effort. The slugging outfielder is now hitting .450 in September, raising his season mark from .278 to .298 during that span.
Sep 10 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Sunday's win over the Padres.The 30-year-old bookended his week with multi-homer games, following up Monday's historic four-homer game with two more long balls Sunday. He also had a four-hit performance this weekend and is now batting .289, so his third straight .300 season is within reach. The timing couldn't be better for those in the fantasy playoffs.
Sep 10 2017Martinez went 4-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Padres.It's the second four-hit effort in five games for Martinez, allowing him to bring up his average to .264 since he joined the Diamondbacks in mid-July. While a 30.6 percent strikeout rate over that same span would normally suggest that Martinez's average is unsustainable, the outfielder has run BABIPs above .340 in each of the past three seasons, which could be enough to keep his average fairly stable the rest of the way.
Sep 9 2017Martinez went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer in Friday's 10-6 loss to the Padres.The long ball Friday aside, Martinez has been relatively quiet in the Diamondbacks' three games since his four-homer performance Sept. 4. During that span, he's gone just 2-for-14 with seven strikeouts. Martinez should remain an excellent source of power production throughout the season's final month, but he may be more of a liability in the batting-average category.
Sep 4 2017Martinez hit four home runs in five at-bats Monday against the Dodgers, driving in six runs in a 13-0 rout.Most incredibly, he didn't hit one 'til the fourth, as Arizona's offense was a bit slow to get in gear despite the lopsided score -- but Martinez took the game over in the late innings, as he proceeded to homer in the seventh, eighth and ninth. The slugging right fielder joined an exclusive club in the process, as he's just the 18th hitter in MLB history (and the first Diamondback) to deliver a four-homer game. Through just 97 games split between the Tigers and D-backs, he's hit an incredible 34 home runs and racked up 79 RBI; that's a 162-game pace for 56 and 131. Eight of those homers have come in his last eight games, and he's been raising his batting average over that span too, going 12-for-30 (.400).
Sep 3 2017Martinez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies.Martinez is one of several regulars getting the day off Sunday, as the team will roll with an outfield composed of Gregor Blanco (left), Ray Fuentes (center) and David Peralta (right). Martinez launched homer No. 30 in a four-RBI effort Saturday, and is likely being awarded a maintenance day with an important three-game series against the Dodgers on the horizon.
Sep 2 2017Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's win over the Rockies.He took advantage of the thin air in Denver, crushing a pitch nearly 450 feet to dead center field against Jon Gray. Martinez is still hitting at just a .237 clip since the trade from Detroit, but he's had some tough luck on balls in play.
Aug 28 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with two home runs, a walk, two RBI and three runs in Sunday's 11-0 win over the Giants.After providing a solo blast in the sixth inning, Martinez's second home run came in between eighth-inning long balls by Paul Goldschmidt and Daniel Descalso, which helped the Diamondbacks break the game open. Since coming over from the Tigers in July, Martinez has gone deep 13 times in just 136 plate appearances, but a .231 average over that span has somewhat dinged his fantasy value.
Aug 26 2017Martinez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Diamondbacks.The 30-year-old continues to absolutely mash left-handed pitching -- Saturday's homer off Madison Bumgarner was his ninth in just 62 at-bats against lefties this season. He will face southpaws in the first two games of next week's series against the Dodgers (Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu).
Aug 22 2017Martinez went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer against the Mets on Tuesday.He started the Diamondbacks off on the right foot with the first-inning blast against fill-in starter Tommy Milone, though Martinez proceeded to strike out in two of his three remaining at-bats. While the slugger's hitting just .233 since coming over to Arizona before the trade deadline, his power certainly hasn't suffered -- this marks his 10th homer in 29 games with his new club -- and the average will surely improve in due time.
Aug 20 2017Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's loss to Minnesota.This was Martinez's ninth homer with Arizona, and he sports a rock-solid .903 OPS since moving to the National League. He's also settled into a cushy fantasy setup hitting behind Paul Goldschmidt in the heart of the D-backs' lineup and projects to remain a high-end fantasy asset throughout the stretch drive.
Aug 19 2017Martinez (illness) is starting in right field and batting fifth for Saturday's game against the Twins.Martinez is ready to resume his duties in right field after missing Friday's game due to an illness. The 29-year-old, who is slashing .239/.337/.580 with eight homers in 25 games with the Diamondbacks, will face Jose Berrios in his return to the lineup.
Aug 18 2017Martinez has been scratched from Friday's lineup against Minnesota with an illness, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.This will be the first game Martinez has missed in a solid August, in which he owns a .250/.364/.518 line with eight RBI and as many extra-base hits. Look for him to return to the lineup shortly; in the meantime, Brandon Drury will replace him in the lineup.
Aug 16 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer Wednesday in Houston.Martinez has turned into an-all-or nothing slugger since being traded to Arizona in mid-July, mashing eight home runs in 24 games en route to a .595 slugging percentage but batting just .238. He also struck out once in this one, giving him 20 whiffs in the past 17 games.
Aug 16 2017Martinez went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Astros.Martinez has recorded just one hit in eight at-bats against his former team through the first two games of the series, but his struggles in making consistent contact have been a regular issue since the Diamondbacks first acquired him in July. While Martinez has lived up to expectations in the power department with seven home runs and a .563 slugging percentage in 80 at-bats with the team, he's hitting only .225 with a 30.1 percent strikeout rate during that time. That's certainly not what the Diamondbacks had anticipated from Martinez after the outfielder hit .314 while striking out in only 24.2 percent of his plate appearances with the Tigers prior to the trade.
Aug 10 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers.Martinez gave the Diamondbacks their only lead of the game in the sixth inning, when his RBI single plated A.J. Pollock. With eight home runs since his July 18 acquisition from the Tigers, Martinez has certainly met the Diamondbacks' expectations in the power department, and now he's begun to cut down on the strikeouts and make more consistent contact as well. Two of Martinez's three multi-hit games with the Diamondbacks have come in the last four contests.
Aug 6 2017Martinez went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, walk and an RBI in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Giants in 10 innings.Six of Martinez's eight hits as a member of the Diamondbacks had been long balls, but interestingly enough, it was the home run that eluded him Saturday in his quest for the cycle. Even after the three-hit night, Martinez is batting just .224 since being acquired from the Tigers on July 18, so he'll need to demonstrate further improvement in that regard in order to meet the high expectations fantasy owners have for him as four-category asset.
Aug 4 2017Martinez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two runs in Thursday's 10-8 win over the Cubs.Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt connected on back-to-back home runs off All-Star closer Wade Davis in the ninth inning to break a tie and send the Diamondbacks to a series victory. In just 12 games (11 starts) with his new team, Martinez has already amassed six home runs and 14 RBI, but the impact has been somewhat dampened by a .195 average.
Jul 30 2017Martinez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Cardinals.Martinez is only batting .207 since joining the Diamondbacks, but with five of his six hits going for home runs, he's provided the power boost the team was expecting when they acquired him from the Tigers on July 18. He should continue to receive plenty of run-producing opportunities with on-base machines David Peralta, A.J. Pollock, Jake Lamb and Paul Goldschmidt regularly batting in front of him.
Jul 27 2017Martinez went 1-for-4 with a grand slam during Thursday's win over St. Louis.Arizona and fantasy owners have to be thrilled with Martinez's recent outburst with the Diamondbacks. He's now hit four homers and drove in 11 run through his past four games, and there's no reason to doubt him continuing his year-long offensive binge. Chase Field is a great hitting environment, and batting behind Paul Goldschmidt -- and his .439 on-base percentage -- is a cushy fantasy setup.
Jul 26 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers, a walk and four RBI against the Braves on Wednesday.Thanks to the quirky way the schedule has coincided with his trade out of Detroit, Martinez has faced the Braves in six of his last eight games -- and he's hit five homers off their pitching. Now that he's over the hand/wrist ailment that derailed his arrival in the desert, expect him to crush plenty more home runs in his new digs.
Jul 25 2017Martinez (hand) went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's win over the Braves.It was his first hit as a member of the Diamondbacks, and it came in his return to the lineup following a four-game absence. Martinez was hit by a pitch on the hand in his first game with Arizona last Wednesday, but all tests were negative. Monday's homer suggests he's out of the woods with the injury.
Jul 24 2017Martinez (wrist) is in the starting lineup Monday against the Braves.Martinez sat out of the past four contests but managed to make a pinch hit appearance Sunday afternoon, which likely acted as the final hurdle to getting him back in the lineup. He'll slot back into his normal spot in the lineup with his new team, batting fifth and playing right field.
Jul 24 2017Martinez (wrist) came on to pinch hit in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Nationals, drawing a walk in his lone plate appearance.Martinez remained out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive contest due to the bruised wrist he sustained in his Diamondbacks debut, but his appearance off the bench Sunday suggests that he'll likely be able to avoid the disabled list and could resume outfield duties as soon as Monday's series opener against the Braves. Fantasy owners will likely want to await confirmation that Martinez is in fact part of the Monday lineup before activating him, but things seem to be trending in the right direction for the 30-year-old slugger.
Jul 23 2017Manager Torey Lovullo expects Martinez (hand) to be able to pinch hit Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.Martinez hasn't played since being lifted from Wednesday's game with a hand injury, but it appears a return is just around the corner. If he's able to pinch hit Sunday, look for Martinez to be back in the starting lineup at some point during the upcoming three-game series against the Braves.
Jul 23 2017Martinez (hand) remains out of the lineup Sunday against the Nationals.Martinez was removed from Wednesday's game due to what was called a left hand contusion, and despite both his X-rays and MRI coming back clean, he will miss his fourth consecutive game. With A.J. Pollock also getting the day off, the Diamondbacks will roll with an outfield composed of Daniel Descalso (left), Gregor Blanco (center) and David Peralta (right). Word has yet to surface on when Martinez might be available for a pinch-hit opportunity.
Jul 22 2017Martinez (hand) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Nationals.Martinez was hit by a pitch in his Diamondbacks debut and is now set to miss his third straight start as a result. Fortunately, X-rays were negative and a followup MRI was clean as well, so it shouldn't be long before the 29-year-old is back in action. He has proven to be an excellent source of power and batting average since his breakout season in 2014, and the move to Arizona offers hope that Martinez can improve his rate stats even further.
Jul 21 2017Martinez (hand) underwent an MRI on Friday, which came back negative, Jack Magruder of FanRag Sports reports.Although the hand contusion seemed like a minor injury for Martinez, these test results confirmed that he will not be out for long. He could make his return to the lineup for Saturday's game, but the Diamondbacks may choose to stress patience for their most recent acquisition. In his place, David Peralta earned the start in right field during Friday's series opener against Washington.
Jul 21 2017Martinez (hand) is not in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Nationals.Martinez will continue to recover from a left hand contusion as he takes a seat for the second straight day. The outfielder should be considered day-to-day moving forward, while David Peralta draws the start in right field in his place.
Jul 20 2017Martinez (hand) is not in the lineup Thursday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.The new acquisition still is nursing a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch Wednesday. Martinez should be back in the coming days, though the Diamondbacks make take their time with their new bopper to get him right. Chris Herrmann will spell him in right field
Jul 19 2017Martinez, who left Wednesday's game in Cincinnati after swinging at a tight, inside pitch, has a left hand contusion. X-rays were negative and he's listed as day-to-day, according to the Diamondbacks' television broadcast.This could end up being a huge sigh of relief for the team's big trade piece, especially when you consider what Arizona gave up for Martinez in order to make a better run at a playoff spot. He actually wanted to stay in the game, but manager Torey Lovullo thought it better to take the cautious route. We'll see if Martinez is able to suit back up for Thursday's series finale.
Jul 19 2017Martinez was forced to leave Wednesday's game against Cincinnati after he was hit in the hand by a pitch, Jody Jackson of Fox Sports Arizona reports.Martinez was attempting to check his swing but couldn't pull back in time and struck out on the pitch, adding insult to injury. Expect Martinez to undergo further evaluation, but he could be in for an extended absence after suffering some terrible luck in his first game as a Diamondback. Consider him day-to-day until team doctors can look at him.
Jul 19 2017Martinez will make his inaugural appearance for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night against the Reds. He'll bat fifth and play right field.Martinez will slot right into the heart of the Diamondbacks' order that seems to closely resemble their regular lineup moving forward. He's sandwiched between Paul Goldschmidt and Chris Owings, which should help the slugging outfielder to rack up the counting stats in the hitter's haven known as Chase Field.
Jul 18 2017Martinez will be traded to the Diamondbacks, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.The two sides have not confirmed, and in fact Martinez is still listed as in Detroit's starting lineup for Tuesday, but terms of the deal have reportedly been finalized. Martinez has been incredible since returning from a foot injury in mid-May, slashing .305/.388/.630 with 16 homers in 57 games, and he should benefit from a big upgrade in home park and a better lineup around him.
Jul 18 2017Martinez was traded to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in exchange for Dawel Lugo, Sergio Alcantara and Jose King.Shortly after word of the trade broke, the two team confirmed the deal, with the Tigers releasing an updated lineup with Alex Presley in right. Martinez is a free agent after this season, so he's just a rental, but he boosts the already-scary Diamondbacks offense to a new level. The move from a pitcher-friendly home park to one of the more hitter-friendly parks in the league could result in even more power than we've seen from the 29-year-old.
Jul 18 2017Martinez (back) is starting in right field and hitting fifth Tuesday against the Royals, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.He was lifted from Monday's game as a precaution with lower back tightness, but all appears to be well a day later. Martinez has been talked about as a high-end target at this year's trade deadline, and is hitting .317 with eight home runs over his last 39 games.
Jul 17 2017Martinez was removed from Monday's game against the Royals in the sixth inning, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.The reason for Martinez's early removal is not yet known, as the outfielder did not appear to suffer any sort of injury before being replaced by Alex Presley. Martinez has been the subject of many trade rumors, so it remains possible that the 29-year-old could be on the move.
Jul 17 2017Martinez was removed from Monday's game against the Royals with lower back tightness.The Tigers are calling Martinez's removal "precautionary", so it appears that the star right fielder isn't dealing with anything serious. He'll be listed as day-to-day, though it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in the starting lineup Tuesday.
Jul 17 2017Martinez went 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays.Martinez's eighth inning solo shot tied the game, and the Tigers would go on to win in extra innings. Martinez now has 16 home runs in just 198 at-bats this season, and he should remain one of the strongest hitters in fantasy baseball so long as he stays healthy.
Jul 15 2017Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer and five RBI on Saturday against the Blue Jays.Martinez's 15 homer of the campaign capped off the scoring as the Tigers exploded for 11 runs in a home victory. Despite missing more than a month to start the season, he hasn't missed a beat, as he's slashing .306/.384/.622, and he's providing fantasy owners with elite-level production.
Jul 10 2017Martinez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and his first steal of the season in Sunday's win over the Indians.Martinez had one steal all of last year and has never had more than six in a season, so don't expect this to become a trend. However, the 29-year-old more than makes up for it with his power potential in the middle of Detroit's lineup, and he's now slashing an impressive .299/.381/.610.
Jul 1 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with two runs and a solo homer in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Indians.He was originally expected to rest for the first installment of Saturday's twin bill, but Justin Upton being scratched led to manager Brad Ausmus to plug Martinez into the lineup. Martinez is now hitting .299 with a strong 1.038 OPS through 45 games this season and he's also belted out 14 home runs. He's collected hits in four of his last five games and has multiple hits in three of those outings.
Jul 1 2017Martinez was added to Saturday's lineup for Game 1 of the doubleheader.Justin Upton was scratched for Saturday's lineup with right side soreness, thrusting Martinez into right field. The 29-year-old will bat third for the first game of the twin-bill while Matt den Dekker moves from right to left field.
Jul 1 2017Martinez is not in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.Martinez took a foul ball off his foot Thursday, the same foot that caused him to miss the first 36 games of the season with, but was in the lineup to play Friday's game until it got postponed. The outfielder will instead spend the first bill of the doubleheader on the bench while Matt den Dekker gets his first start of the year in right.
Jun 30 2017Martinez (foot) is starting in right field and batting fifth against the Indians.Martinez was lifted from Thursday's game after he fouled a ball off his left foot, but it appears his removal was simply precautionary as he's back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against Cleveland. The 29-year-old is slashing .294/.382/.634 with 13 homers in 44 games this season.
Jun 30 2017Martinez was lifted from Thursday's game as a precaution after he fouled a ball off his left foot in the seventh inning, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports.Following a tenuous 15-pitch at-bat which ended with an RBI single, Martinez was substituted out of the game for pinch runner Matt den Dekker. Manager Brad Ausmus later said the premature exit was a precautionary measure, especially considering the slugger missed the beginning of the season with the exact same type of injury. Martinez is hitting .309/.365/.585 with 10 RBI in his first full month of action and figures to be back in the lineup when the Tigers begin a weekend series with the Indians on Friday.
Jun 27 2017Martinez went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Royals.He's hitting .322 (28-for-87) in June and now has 13 homers in 42 games on the year, a pace that has Martinez targeting his first 40-HR campaign despite missing the first six weeks of the season with a foot injury.
Jun 21 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with his 12th home run of the season in Tuesday's loss to the Mariners.Those 12 home runs have come in just 36 games, which shows just how hot Martinez has been since returning from a spring training foot injury in May. With Victor Martinez out indefinitely due to an irregular heartbeat, J.D. Martinez batted fourth in this one, and he figures to be in the cleanup spot often moving forward.
Jun 14 2017Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.Martinez took Zack Greinke deep in the sixth inning. The 29-year-old's power pace has slowed somewhat after a ridiculous stretch right when he returned from a foot injury in mid-May, but Martinez is still one of the premier options across all of fantasy baseball to rack up the counting stats.
Jun 10 2017Martinez went 3-for-4 with a double in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Red Sox.It wasn't his most productive effort, but the 29-year-old is now hitting .393 (11-for-28) through seven games in June with two homers, four RBI and five runs, pushing his slash line on the year to a career-best .310/.404/.747 pace. Martinez will cool down eventually, but after missing the first five weeks of the season with a foot injury he has more than made up for lost time.
Jun 5 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and his 10th home run of the season in Sunday's win over the White Sox.What makes the 10 home runs so incredible is the fact that Martinez reached the mark in just 22 games after missing the first month plus of the season due to a sprained foot. As long as he stays healthy, Martinez should remain one of the more productive players in all fantasy formats.
May 30 2017Martinez (foot) went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's 10-7 win over the Royals.After exiting Sunday's game early, Martinez was right back in the starting lineup Monday and made his presence felt with a go-ahead 433-foot three-run blast in the fifth that plated Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. The slugging outfielder had actually been hitless in the previous four games (10 at-bats), so Monday's round tripper served to snap him out of a mini-slump in spectacular fashion. Martinez has now compiled eight homers and 17 RBI in just 17 games played thus far this season.
May 29 2017Martinez (foot) will start in right field and bat fifth Monday against the Royals.Martinez ended up exiting Sunday's game against the White Sox after experiencing some renewed soreness in his right foot, but that was for precautionary purposes more than anything. After receiving some treatment after the contest, Martinez is feeling well enough to man the field for the series opener and looks like a safe activation heading into the upcoming week. Despite opening the season on the disabled list with a sprained lisfranc ligament in the foot, Martinez hasn't missed a beat since returning from the disabled list in mid May, slashing .298/.452/.766 over 62 plate appearances.
May 28 2017Martinez is still dealing with some soreness in his foot and was removed from Sunday's game against the White Sox as a precaution, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.Martinez sprained his foot in mid-March during spring training and didn't make his debut with the big club until May 12 as a result. It doesn't sound like he's in danger of missing much -- if any -- time, but owners should nonetheless monitor his status closely as the team's series in Kansas City kicks off Monday. Consider Martinez day-to-day for now.
May 27 2017Martinez is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the White Sox.The foot injury that sidelined him to begin the year has not prevented him from raking since returning to action, but it is understandable that the Tigers would want to give him a break for one of the two games Saturday. Tyler Collins will start in right field and hit seventh.
May 26 2017Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs scored in Thursday's loss to the Astros.Since making his season debut on May 12, Martinez has an astounding seven home runs in 12 games. While his homer pace should slow down somewhat, the Tigers' right fielder looks like he's going to produce excellent fantasy numbers the rest of the way, assuming he stays healthy.
May 24 2017Martinez is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Astros, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.Martinez has come out of the gate hot, batting .364 with six homers and 12 RBI in 11 games since returning from the DL, but he'll head to the bench for his first healthy night off. Tyler Collins will take over in right field in his stead.
May 18 2017Martinez went 1-for-1 with a three-run home run, three walks and two runs during Thursday's win over Baltimore.With five bombs, 11 RBI, seven runs and a .500/.680/1.438 slash line through six games since returning from a foot injury, Martinez is making up for lost time in a hurry. The 29-year-old outfielder has been a fantasy star since joining the Tigers in 2014, and there is clearly no reason to expect anything different going forward.
May 18 2017Batting third in the lineup, Martinez went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.Martinez was originally slated to hit sixth, but when Miguel Cabrera was scratched due to an oblique injury, Martinez was bumped up. The 29-year-old could stick in the spot while Cabrera is out for at least the next two to three days.
May 17 2017Martinez went 2-for-3 with two home runs, five RBI and four walks in Tuesday's 13-inning loss to the Orioles.This was Martinez's second two-homer game in the four games that he's been active this season. He's showing no issues from the foot injury that kept him out, and Martinez should be a very strong fantasy asset the rest of the way.
May 14 2017Martinez went 3-for-4 with three RBI from a go-ahead solo home run and a two-run shot in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Angels.The slugging outfielder made his presence felt in only his second game of the season, snapping a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth with a 381-foot solo shot that would prove to be the game-winner. Martinez had taken Angels starter Ricky Nolasco deep with Victor Martinez aboard in the second as well for his first round-tripper of the season. The 29-year-old's bat has been missed as he recovered from a foot injury over the first several weeks of the season, but if Saturday's effort is any indication, he appears ready to contribute his customary level of production.
May 12 2017Martinez is batting sixth and playing right field in his season debut Friday against the Angels.After rehabbing a foot injury for the first month and a half of the season, Martinez will finally take back over in right field for Detroit. He went just 4-for-23 during his rehab assignment, but he did hit a home run in his final tuneup Thursday. He'll hit sixth for the time being, but he could move up in the order if Justin Upton starts to struggle.
May 12 2017Martinez (foot) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday.As relayed earlier today, Martinez's rehab at Triple-A Toledo was deemed sufficient due to Jim Adduci's impending DL placement due to a strained oblique. Fantasy owners should follow suit and click JDM back into their lineups.
May 12 2017Martinez (foot) will make his season debut with the Tigers on Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.His rehab timetable was cut short with the placement of Jim Aducci (strained right oblique) on the 10-day disabled list. Martinez went 1-for-14 with Triple-A Toledo, but the one hit was a home run Thursday. Fantasy players should throw him back in their lineups as soon as possible.
May 11 2017Martinez (foot) is starting at designated hitter for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.Martinez is 0-for-11 on his rehab assignment with the Mud Hens, but he homered for High-A Lakeland on Saturday. The masher's progress makes him likely to return to the majors within the next week. Fantasy players in shallow leagues should check if he's available.
May 11 2017Martinez (foot) is "50/50" to rejoin the Tigers sometime during the coming weekend, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.The outfielder is serving as designated hitter for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, and despite his 0-for-11 stretch with the Mud Hens so far, his workload is considered a sign that he's ready to resurface for his fantasy players. Those in daily transaction fantasy leagues -- or those allowed to make changes Friday -- should prepare to slide him into their lineups.
May 7 2017Martinez (foot) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group reports.Martinez had just started picking up reps in the outfield, and is now ready to step up the level of competition after homering for High-A Lakeland on Saturday. According to manager Brad Ausmus, there's a chance Martinez could be activated at some point during the upcoming four-game weekend series against the Angels. How he responds to Triple-A pitching will likely be a determining factor in his eventual return date.
May 6 2017Martinez (foot) played seven innings in right field and went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's game with High-A Lakeland, Evan Woodbery of MLive reports.Picking up playing time in the outfield was one of the final hurdles for Martinez, and it seems like everything went off without a hitch Saturday. The Tigers may opt to have their slugging right fielder play a couple more rehab games in the outfield just to get more exposure prior to a return to the big leagues, but a full return appears to be on the horizon. Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports that Detroit plans to have Martinez move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, after which a timetable for his return to the majors should become evident.
May 5 2017Martinez (foot) is tentatively scheduled to play right field for High-A Lakeland on Saturday, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.Everything will depend on how Martinez feels coming out of his first rehab game with Lakeland on Friday (in which he'll serve as the DH), but a return to the outfield appears imminent. Playing the outfield and playing the outfield on back-to-back days are probably the final hurdles for Martinez, who is working his way back from a sprained lisfranc ligament in his right foot. He has been logging at-bats in extended spring training over the past week or so.
May 5 2017Martinez (foot) is set to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Lakeland on Friday.During a Monday designated hitter appearance for extended spring training, Martinez fouled a ball off his left foot -- not the already injured right foot -- but X-rays were negative. This upcoming assignment is a positive step for the outfielder, who rejoin the major-league club sometime next week if all goes well.
May 3 2017Martinez has not played defense during his rehab, the Detroit Free Press' Anthony Fenech reports.While Martinez may be nearing a return soon, he will need at least some defensive reps before rejoining the Tigers. The 29-year-old suffered a minor setback Tuesday after fouling a ball off the foot he is not rehabbing during an extended spring training game.
May 2 2017Martinez fouled a ball off his left foot during an extended spring training game Monday but X-rays were negative, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.It was the "other" foot -- Martinez is currently working his way back from a sprained lisfranc ligament in his right foot -- and apparently no significant damage was done. That said, Martinez was sore coming out of Friday's extended spring game, and this incident may further delay his return to the outfield. Martinez will need to show ample mobility in the outfield before the Tigers active him.
Apr 30 2017Martinez (foot) indicated he was feeling sore after logging nine at-bats in an extended spring training game Friday, but could still play in another game Monday, Chris McCosky of MLive.com reports.Martinez, who went 3-for-9 during Friday's game, took Saturday and Sunday off to receive treatment on his right foot, and the Tigers are hopeful that's all he'll need for the soreness to subside. Even if the Tigers decide to err on the side of caution and hold Martinez out Monday, it shouldn't be viewed as a major setback. While the fact that Martinez is facing pitching is encouraging, the Tigers may not have a clear idea of when he'll rejoin the big club until he tests out his foot by playing right field.
Apr 29 2017Martinez (foot) went 3-for-9 in an extended spring training game Friday, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.Martinez continues to slowly make his way back from a sprained right foot that has kept him sidelined him since spring training. The 29-year-old may need a brief rehab assignment before activation, but he still remains hopeful to return sometime in May.
Apr 27 2017Martinez (foot) took live batting practice Wednesday and will play in an extended spring training game when ready, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.The outfielder probably won't return until sometime in early May, at earliest, considering this timetable. Martinez may need a brief stint in a live game before activation.
Apr 25 2017Martinez (foot) ran again Monday, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.The slugger continues to workout without any issues, with this being his second running outing since Friday. If everything checks out in the next day or so, Martinez could head out on a rehab assignment before returning to Detroit.
Apr 23 2017Manager Brad Ausmus said Sunday that the Tigers are hopeful Martinez (foot) will return from the 10-day disabled list later in April or in early May, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez is gradually increasing the intensity of his workouts, most recently running at about 40-to-60 percent strength Friday. He's scheduled to run again Monday, and if his sprained right foot checks out fine, the 29-year-old could soon be sent out for a rehab assignment. With the Tigers recently placing Miguel Cabrera (groin) on the DL, the team could certainly benefit from Martinez's return sooner rather than later.
Apr 19 2017Martinez (foot) is scheduled to take batting practice Wednesday and is expected to begin running on the field Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez still looks to be a week or more away from being activated from the disabled list, but the on-field running marks an important step in the recovery process for the outfielder. Since suffering the mid-foot sprain in a March 18 Grapefruit League game, Martinez had been limited to running on a treadmill, so once he's able to show his mobility won't be an issue while covering the field, the Tigers might be able to flesh out a more defined return date. Because he's missed more than a month with the injury, Martinez will eventually require bulk at-bats during simulated games at extended spring training before his activation.
Apr 16 2017Martinez (foot) will join the Tigers in Tampa for their upcoming series with the Rays and is scheduled to take batting practice Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.The Tigers have no plans to activate Martinez from the disabled list during the Rays series, as he still hasn't been cleared to take part in outfield drills. Before the Tigers allow him to do so, Martinez will need to run with at least 80 percent of his body weight on an Alter-G treadmill, but it's unclear when that might happen. Look for manager Brad Ausmus to continue to go with a platoon of Tyler Collins and Mikie Mahtook in right field until Martinez is activated.
Apr 13 2017Tigers general manager Al Avila said Martinez (foot) "should be playing in games in the next few days," MLB Network Radio reports.The team previously said that Martinez likely won't require a full 20-day rehab assignment, so if he starts rehabbing soon, he could be back with the Tigers before the end of the month. His return will cut into the playing time of Tyler Collins and Mikie Mahtook, and it could possibly send JaCoby Jones to Triple-A for regular at-bats.
Apr 12 2017Manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday that he does not expect Martinez (foot) will need a full 20-day rehab assignment, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.The Tigers are not providing a timetable for Martinez's return to action, but the fact that they are talking about a rehab assignments speaks to the outfielder's progress. Ausmus said Martinez is progressing "extremely well," having advanced to regular batting practice Monday. The biggest tests -- namely running and cutting in the outfield -- still await, but a return before the end of the month seems well within the realm of possibility.
Apr 11 2017Martinez (foot) took regular batting practice Monday and is slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery, the Detroit News' Chris McCosky reports.It sounds like he is nearing a rehab assignment, but that situation is still a little up in the air. He will likely head to High-A Lakeland at first, then eventually move to Triple-A Toledo, per McCosky, with a potential return to the big leagues in late April.
Apr 8 2017Martinez (foot) began swinging a bat yesterday and manager Brad Ausmus says he is progressing well, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez is rehabbing in extended spring training, but continues to make strides towards a full recovery. The veteran slugger sprained a ligament while diving in a Grapefruit League game, delaying the start to his 2017 season and enabling a right field platoon between Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Collins. Barring any setbacks, expect Martinez to ramp up rehabilitation within the coming weeks.
Apr 6 2017Martinez (foot) is progressing well in his rehab and is scheduled to be examined Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. "They like the progress he's made. There are no negatives on J.D.," said manager Brad Ausmus on Thursday.Martinez is working his way back from a mid-foot sprain he suffered making a catch during a spring training game on March 18. Thursday's doctor's appointment should shed further light on Martinez's progress, but provided that everything is going according to schedule, he should be on track to return by late-April or early-May. Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Collins will platoon in right field until Martinez is ready to return.
Apr 4 2017Martinez had the cast on his right foot removed Monday and has started physical therapy, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez was finally able to start physical therapy after having his right foot constrained to a cast for the past couple weeks, marking a milestone in his rehab. The 29-year-old is hoping to return to the Tigers in late-April or early-May, though there still isn't a firm timetable. "He said he'd let me know how he feels [Tuesday]," said manager Brad Ausmus. Until Martinez is able to return, Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Collins will likely split time in right field.
Apr 2 2017Martinez (foot) will have his cast removed Monday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.A timeframe for his return is expected to be available following Monday's examination, so owners should monitor his status in the coming days. Until Martinez returns, Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Collins will likely share time in right field.
Mar 31 2017Martinez (foot) was officially placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.It's a procedural move, with Martinez scheduled to miss at least the opening week or two of the season while he deals with a sprained Lisfranc ligament. The near future will be key in determining when he can actually suit up again, though if he falls far enough in fantasy drafts, he could pay off.
Mar 24 2017Martinez sprained his lisfranc ligament and will be out 3-4 weeks, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.This is a tough break for Martinez, who injured his foot making a diving catch in a recent Grapefruit League game. The 29-year-old will now head to the DL to start the season, with his return likely falling somewhere in mid-April. With his absence looming, JaCoby Jones and Steven Moya could possibly short-term replacements to start the season.
Mar 22 2017Martinez indicated that he's encouraged that he's been able to put weight on his sprained right foot, but fears he may not be ready for Opening Day, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.Martinez suffered the injury after making a catch in Saturday's Grapefruit League game, but the Tigers have remained tight lipped on the severity of the setback. An official timetable for Martinez's return should be available Friday, when he's set to undergo a weight-bearing stress CT scan in Charlotte. If the Tigers determine that Martinez will require a DL stint to begin the season, Steven Moya could be tasked with serving as his primary replacement in right field.
Mar 20 2017Martinez (foot) will undergo a stress CT scan in Charlotte on Friday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.Martinez suffered a mid-foot sprain while making a catch in the outfield on Saturday, and while the X-rays came back negative, the Tigers are sending him for a second opinion on Friday. Manager Brad Ausmus remains optimistic that the outfielder avoided a worst-case injury, but more won't be known until the new test results are disclosed. If the 29-year-old is forced to start the beginning of the season on the DL, look for a combination of Mikie Mahtook, JaCoby Jones and Steven Moya to make starts in his place.
Mar 19 2017The Tigers received MRI results on Martinez's sprained right foot, but won't disclose the details until the outfielder receives a second opinion from a specialist, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.Martinez first suffered the mid-foot sprain while making a catch in the outfield during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. While X-rays on the foot have already come back negative, the Tigers aren't likely to issue an update on a potential return date until the results of the MRI are announced. With Opening Day still a little over two weeks away, Martinez will still have some time to heal up before the season begins, but if he's forced to hit the DL, some combination of Steven Moya, Mikie Mahtook and JaCoby Jones would likely make starts in his stead.
Mar 19 2017Martinez (foot) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.Martinez was an early exit from Saturday's exhibition matchup after he appeared to suffer a leg injury while playing the field, which was later classified as a right foot sprain. The Tigers aren't taking any chances with the 29-year-old outfielder, who has tallied 83 homer runs over the last three seasons. Look for more information to follow once the results come in, but don't expect Martinez to return to a regular workload for at least a few days.
Mar 18 2017Martinez exited Saturday's game with an apparent leg injury, MLB.com's Jason Beck reports.Martinez appeared to injury his leg making a play in the field in the first inning of Saturday's contest. According to Beck, Martinez charged for a fly ball and hobbled to the dugout after making the catch. Alex Presley has come on to replace Martinez in the lineup. More information on Martinez's status should be available later in Saturday's game.
Mar 18 2017Martinez has been diagnosed with a mid right foot sprain and is set to be reevaluated Sunday.X-rays came back negative on Martinez's foot, but there won't be an offical timetable for his return until team doctors re-examine him later in the weekend. Martinez exited Saturday's game after making a running catch and was seen favoring his right leg on his way into the dugout. Tyler Collins and Steven Moya stand to see more playing time in right field while Martinez is sidelined.
Mar 7 2017Martinez is focused on improving his defense in 2017 after a down year in the field last season, MLB.com reports.While defense doesn't immediately impact Martinez's fantasy value, it could affect his value in free agency next offseason. His defensive metrics all went down in 2016, but if he looks good in the field and at the plate in 2017, he could be in for a significant payday. Confidence also counts for something, so if Martinez is excelling in the field, it could carry over to his at-bats.
Feb 27 2017Martinez (pectoral) will man right field and bat in the cleanup spot in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves.Martinez was only sidelined a couple of days with pectoral tightness, and his reentry into the lineup indicates he's fully recovered from the issue. Even though an injury-plagued 2016 season dinged his final numbers, Martinez still profiles as one of the game's top power bats. His .908 OPS last season was actually superior to what he provided in 2015, when he smacked a career-high 38 homers.
Feb 25 2017Martinez was scratched from Saturday's Grapefruit League game with pectoral tightness, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.The move is likely precautionary from a management standpoint. Martinez is expected to once again be a big part of the Tigers' offense, so they won't risk any health issues in spring training. Juan Perez will take over in right field. Consider Martinez day-to-day unless something changes.
Feb 22 2017Martinez is a candidate to bat second this season, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez batted second some last season, but he got most of his at-bats in the No. 5 hole. If he bats second, his RBI potential goes down, but he could score more runs in front of guys like Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton and Nick Castellanos.
Sep 26 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the Tigers' 7-4 loss against the Indians on Monday.Martinez had been in a slump entering Monday, hitting .214/.303/.375 in his last 15 games. It was his 22nd home run of the year, a figure that is down significantly from the career high of 38 he set last year. But Martinez's .313 batting average is much improved, up from .282 in 2015.
Sep 24 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Royals.The slugging outfielder brought home Cameron Maybin with both of his run-scoring hits, plating him to tie the score at 1-1 in the third and then driving him in to extend the Tigers' lead to 4-2 in the sixth. Martinez has three RBI over the last two games and is now hitting .269 (21-for-78) with three doubles, two homers and 11 RBI in September.
Sep 10 2016Martinez went 3-for-3 with a two-RBI single, walk and run in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Orioles.Martinez plated Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler in the fifth with his run-scoring hit, extending the Tigers' lead to 3-0 at the time. The slugging outfielder has torn the cover off the ball since returning from an extended DL stint in early August, with a .400/.455/.677 line that includes 12 doubles, eight homers and 19 RBI. The 29-year-old also has hits in six of his first seven games of September, and in nine of his last 10 overall.
Sep 4 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs Sunday against the Royals.After batting .404 in August, Martinez has continued to swing the bat well in September, as he's started out 4-for-12 along with his 20th homer of the season. He currently has the highest batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of his six-year career.
Aug 27 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run in Friday's 4-2 victory over the Angels.His sixth-inning run-scoring two-bagger was particularly timely, given that it erased a 1-0 deficit. Martinez now has six two-hit efforts in his last seven games and is slashing .414/.452/.713 over 87 August at-bats.
Aug 22 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Red Sox.He continues to bully around opposition pitching in August, slashing .441/.486/.809 with six home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored while extending his hitting streak to 12 games. The Tigers are scrambling to stay afloat in a crowded AL wild card race, but Martinez is doing everything he can to get the team into the postseason.
Aug 15 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Royals.Martinez has hit four of his 16 homers since returning from an elbow injury on Aug. 3. The 28-year-old slugger is starting to regain the form he showed in a 38-homer 2015 campaign, reaching base in 11-of-12 games with eight extra base hits since coming off the Disabled List.
Aug 14 2016Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer and two runs Sunday against the Rangers.Martinez has been on fire since returning from the disabled list on August 2, as he's collected 17 hits in 40 at-bats with seven extra-base hits and five RBI, and he's now slashing .303/.372/.548 on the year. From a statistical standpoint, the lefty is enjoying the second-best season of his six-year career, and is in position to help fantasy teams make a playoff push.
Aug 10 2016Martinez went 3-for-7 with his 14th homer of the year in Tuesday's 15-inning loss to the Mariners.Martinez hasn't missed a beat since returning to the Tigers lineup, and has put together 13 multi-hit efforts in a remarkable 20-game stretch dating back to before his elbow injury. Reaching last season's mark of 38 long balls was always going to be a tall order for the 28-year-old right fielder even if he stayed healthy, but topping 20 for a third straight season is still a very achievable goal despite the six-week layoff.
Aug 5 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Mets.Martinez is 5-for-9 (.556) with two doubles and one home run since his return from the DL on Tuesday and has now raised his batting average by 50 points (.245 to .295) since June 1. Suffice to say you need to get Martinez back into your lineup, stat.
Aug 4 2016Martinez is starting in right field and hitting fifth Thursday against the White Sox.This is his first start since coming off the DL on Wednesday, although he has already made his presence felt by hitting a pinch-hit home run in Wednesday's game. He should be in the lineup almost every day going forward, and can be deployed in all formats.
Aug 3 2016Martinez (elbow) hit a pinch-hit home run in Wednesday's game against the White Sox.Martinez returned to the Detroit Tigers in style. After not playing since fracturing his elbow June 16, he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and hit Chris Sale's first pitch into the shrubs above the center field fence to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. The scene was electric at U.S. Cellular Field as Martinez was the hero in the comeback victory. Expect to see the outfielder to return to everyday duty beginning Thursday.
Aug 3 2016Martinez (elbow) was activated from the 15-day DL but is not in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox.It was anticipated that he would be activated Wednesday, and while manager Brad Ausmus said Martinez is available to pinch hit, he also said he would prefer to give him the day off after the outfielder played two games in Toledo on Tuesday. Look for Martinez to get back in the Tigers' lineup Thursday against the White Sox.
Aug 2 2016Martinez (elbow) will be activated prior to Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Matthew Mowery of the Oakland Press reports.Martinez, who has been sidelined with an elbow injury since mid-June, will make his triumphant return Wednesday against lefty Chris Sale. He hit .278/.316/.361 with 11 strikeouts during an eight-game rehab assignment. The elbow injury could prevent him from hitting for his usual power numbers over the rest of the season, but there should still be enough production for him be used in all formats upon his activation.
Jul 31 2016Martinez (elbow) is expected to be activated from the disabled list before the Tigers' homestand concludes Aug. 7, Matthew Mowery of The Oakland Press reports. "[Martinez is] getting close. He's going to DH again [Saturday]," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Like I said, it wouldn't be a shock to me if we saw him before the end of this homestand. I'd actually be more surprised if we didn't see him before the end of the homestand."Martinez's elbow still presents pain for him while throwing, so he has yet to see any time in the outfield during his rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers utilize Victor Martinez as a full-time DH, so J.D. Martinez may need to prove that he can defend his position capably before the team activates him. In any event, Martinez's return seems forthcoming, so he's worth stashing in just about any format if he was dropped after suffering the injury back in mid-June.
Jul 29 2016Martinez (elbow) was throwing from 220 feet Friday, but felt a little sore after the workout as he remains on the disabled list, Tony Paul of DetroitNews.com reports.There was the slight chance that Martinez could play in the outfield for Triple-A Toledo's game on Friday, but the team isn't taking any chances and will keep him in the DH spot for now. Manager Brad Ausmus said that he could return before the end of the team's homestand, which continues through August 7. Chances are that he will be back before then, and could be back in the lineup as a right fielder within the next couple days.
Jul 29 2016Martinez (elbow) will start at DH for Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press reports.Martinez has gone 4-for-10 in his first two rehab assignment games and will be back out there in the DH role Friday against Triple-A Gwinnett. He's yet to advance to playing in the outfield during an outing but that will likely occur in the coming days. Pending any setbacks, the 28-year-old is still projecting to return to the Tigers in early August.
Jul 26 2016Martinez will serve as the designated hitter in his first two games with Triple-A Toledo, but could return to the outfield as early as Friday, Katie Strang of ESPN reports.While starting as a designated hitter seemed to signal his elbow wasn't ready to play the outfield, it appears the issue won't keep him off the field much longer. When healthy he should retake his everyday role in right field, but Martinez may require a lengthier rehab before his return to the majors.
Jul 25 2016Martinez (elbow) will begin a rehab stint at Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, starting as a designated hitter, Katie Strang of ESPN reports.The Tigers seemingly aren't in any rush to get Martinez back in Detroit, so it's possible that the outfielder will take a longer-than-usual rehab assignment at Triple-A. That being said, his ability to play in the outfield while with Toledo will be the signal that he's likely a few days away from rejoining the Tigers.
Jul 21 2016Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said that Martinez might begin a rehab assignment as just a designated hitter, due to his inability to throw without pain, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez got some swings in the batting cage on Thursday, as the pain doesn't bother him when he hits. He will get rehab at-bats as a designated hitter until he is able to throw pain-free. This will hopefully get him back in Detroit sooner as the Tigers head begin their stretch run. The Tigers will continue to do everything they can to get Martinez back on the field as soon as possible without jeopardizing his health.
Jul 15 2016Martinez's return from a broken elbow is "still a few weeks off, probably, " according to manager Brad Ausmus, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.Martinez could still return during his estimated recovery timetable, which was set at 6-to-8 weeks following his mid-June injury, but it appears likely his absence will stretch into August. He is not yet ready to face live pitching, and will almost certainly require a rehab assignment before rejoining the big league club. Steven Moya and Mike Aviles figure to continue sharing the left-field duties in Martinez's place.
Jul 8 2016Martinez (elbow) took swings with a fungo on Friday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.Martinez has now advanced to hitting drills after being limited to cardio and lower-body work since breaking his elbow on June 16. The 28-year-old is likely still two to three weeks away from a return to the majors but it appears his rehab is right on track.
Jul 2 2016Martinez (elbow) is limited to cardio work and lower-body strength in his rehabilitation, and it seems likely his return will be pushed to the long end of the original four-to-six weeks, reports MLB.com.It's been two weeks since he crashed into the wall in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, breaking his elbow. Martinez has tried to shag balls during batting practice, but running aggravates the pain because of the arm swinging. He will need to throw and hit before he can go to a rehab assignment, and those look increasingly unlikely in the next two weeks. Don't count on Martinez until the end of July.
Jun 16 2016Martinez has been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of the radial neck at the right elbow.The Tigers will send Martinez for a CT scan on Friday to confirm the results of his X-rays. He left Thursday's game after running into the right field wall in the second inning. Mike Aviles took over for Martinez in right, but if this sends him to the DL (which seems like a strong possibility given the nature of the injury), the team could opt to give Steven Moya another look.
Jun 16 2016Martinez exited Thursday's game with a right arm injury, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.The star outfielder appeared to injure his right arm when running into the right field wall during Thursday's contest against the Royals. Mike Aviles has taken over in right field for Martinez while Andrew Romine has entered the game in center. With Cameron Maybin (quad) also dealing with an injury, a loss of Martinez for any amount of time would be an extremely unfortunate development for the Tigers' outfield. A further update on Martinez's status figures to be made available later Thursday.
Jun 16 2016Martinez (elbow) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday and he is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.Martinez suffered a non-displaced fracture at the radial neck of his right elbow Thursday when bracing himself for a collision into the outfield wall. The current timetable would have him back in action for the Tigers some time in late July if he is able to stay on track with his recovery. The Tigers recalled outfielder Steven Moya in a corresponding move Thursday.
Jun 15 2016Martinez went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, an RBI and two walks in Tuesday's win over the White Sox.Martinez has at least two hits in each of his past six games, a blistering stretch in which he has raised his batting line from .254/.325/.491 to .287/.361/.526. After a merely decent start, Martinez is now angling for an All-Star bid. With three doubles Tuesday night, he has 33 extra-base hits in just 63 games.
Jun 12 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 Sunday with a double against the Yankees. It was his fourth consecutive multi-hit game.He's 8-for-14 (.571) in those four games, but aside from Sunday, all the hits were singles. Since the start of June, Martinez is hitting .372 (16-for-41) with four doubles, one HR and eight RBI.
Jun 10 2016Martinez went 2-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 4-0 loss to the Yankees.Despite CC Sabathia throughly styming his teammates, Martinez still managed his second consecutive multi-hit game, and third in his last four. He's enjoying his best all-around month to date this season in June, during which he's slashed .313/.361/.500 over 32 at-bats, with three doubles, a homer and eight RBI.
Jun 4 2016Martinez went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs in the 7-4 victory over the White Sox on Saturday.The right fielder is now 4-for-7 with four RBI in the series and has 12 homers, 33 RBI and 32 runs this season. Martinez did have eight home runs in May, but after hitting .229 in the month, it's nice to see the slugger record two multi-hit games in the first few days of June.
Jun 4 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in Friday's 10-3 victory over the White Sox.The 28-year-old outfielder recorded his first multi-hit game since May 22 versus the Rays, and posted his fourth RBI in the last four contests. Martinez is still trying to find a consistent rhythm at the plate this season, as his current .249 average is considerably behind the .315 and .282 figures he posted in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
May 28 2016Martinez went 1-for-5 with a triple and an RBI Friday against Oakland.Martinez has been tearing the cover of the ball of late with a six-game hitting streak, and he's hit safely in nine of the past 10 games. The power-hitting outfielder has four home runs, a total of nine extra-base hits and 10 RBI over that span.
May 18 2016Martinez hit his eighth home run, a solo shot, as part of a 2-for-4 game in Tuesday's win over the Twins.Martinez now has homers in three straight games and five blasts in his past nine games. After a slow start, Martinez has totally righted the ship and is now on pace for 33 home runs. In 281 games over the past two seasons, Martinez hammered 61 home runs, a 35-homer pace per 162 games, so Martinez has picked up this season right where he left off.
May 16 2016Martinez hit his seventh home run as part of a 3-for-4 game with two runs scored and two RBI Monday against the Twins.Martinez now has four home runs in his past eight games and has pushed his batting line from .230/.299/.369 to a respectable .252/.335/.448 in that span. Martinez has a better strikeout rate (23.2 percent) and walk rate (10.4 percent) than last season but was beating the ball into the ground and had yet to show the power that set him apart in 2014 and 2015 (61 combined home runs). Now that it looks like Martinez has found his power stroke too, he could once again become one of the American League's most productive outfielders.
May 16 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo shot, his sixth home run of the season, in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Orioles.He and Miguel Cabrera homered back to back in the eighth to give the Tigers the win after Martinez had appeared to strike out on a check swing to end the inning, but those are the breaks you get when things are going your way. Martinez now has three homers in the last week with a .269/.387/.654 slash line, and could be poised to go on a tear.
May 11 2016Martinez hit a solo homer and struck out three times against the Nationals' Max Scherzer in Wednesday's loss.After 2014's breakout was followed by 2015's power explosion, Martinez flew off draft boards this spring, and early indications confirmed that valuation -- on April 19, he was hitting .370/.444/.565, but then he hit the skids in a big way. Over the 19 games between then and Wednesday, Martinez went just 11-for-76 (.145) with two homers. His BABIP is still way too low at .264 and his HR/FB is depressed as well, so Martinez should bounce back promptly. It's also hard to blame him for all those whiffs Wednesday, considering that the Tigers went down on strikes 20 times against Max Scherzer.
May 9 2016Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's loss to the Nationals.Martinez had been off to a putrid start to May, collecting just two hits in 27 at-bats prior to Monday. Monday's game could be a sign that Martinez is starting to come back to life, as the outfielder hit a robust .282 with 38 home runs a season ago. He's at .239 with four homers thus far this year.
May 6 2016Martinez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers.Mike Aviles will man right field and bat second against lefty Cole Hamels. The team has not given any indication Martinez is ailing, but his absence against a southpaw is odd to say the least. Martinez has posted an OPS well over .900 against lefties since the start of last season.
Apr 27 2016Martinez knocked in four RBI with a home run and a double in Wednesday's 9-4 win over Oakland.It was a big night for the outfielder after coming in hitless in his previous eight at-bats. He hasn't exactly shown the power yet that helped him hit a career-high 38 homers last season, but Wednesday's game was a good sign. With a .293 average for the season, Martinez is still a solid fantasy play.
Apr 15 2016Martinez was 1-for-4 in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Astros.After failing to tally a hit for the first time all season Thursday versus the Pirates, the power-hitting outfielder kicked off a new streak Friday. Martinez had drawn a pair of free passes Thursday, meaning he's reached base safely in every game this season. He's slashing an outstanding .412/.475/.588 line through the first nine games.
Mar 16 2016Martinez is tied for the team lead in home runs with four this spring.Martinez is one of the most underrated players in the game today. He is one of only nine players to accumulate 60 or more homers with an OPS of at least .890 over the last two seasons. He's not the Tigers' biggest name and that means he'll likely drop further in your draft than guys like Miggy, VMart or even Justin Upton. But his value may be even greater than it has been in the last two years if those big boppers in the Detroit lineup have big years.
Feb 8 2016The Tigers and Martinez agreed to a two-year contract Monday, avoiding arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports.Martinez backed up his breakout in 2014 with 38 homers and 102 RBI last season en route to a final slash line of .282/.344/.535. As he enters his age-29 season, he's been afforded some security with the aim of truly cashing in once this new deal is complete.
Oct 8 2015Martinez is being considered by the Tigers as a candidate for an extension, Chris Lott of MLive.com reports.Tigers general manager Al Avila expressed some interest in an possible contract extension for Martinez, who still has two years of arbitration remaining. While the 28-year-old outfielder stumbled a bit in terms of batting average (his .315 batting average in 2014 fell to .282 in 2015) he improved dramatically in the slugging department, crushing nearly as many home runs in 2015 (38) as he had in his entire career previously (47). It's safe to say his play these last two seasons has certainly dictated a raise, however it remains to be seen how much the Tigers are willing to spend with a rebuild seemingly on the horizon.
Oct 8 2015Martinez is considering by the Tigers a candidate for an extension, Chris Lott of MLive.com reports.Tigers general manager Al Avila expressed some interest in an possible contract extension for Martinez, who still has two years of arbitration remaining. While the 28-year-old outfielder stumbled a bit in terms of batting average (his .315 batting average in 2014 fell to .282 in 2015) he improved dramatically in the slugging department, crushing nearly as many home runs in 2015 (38) as he had in his entire career previously (47). It's safe to say his play these last two seasons has certainly dictated a raise, however it remains to be seen how much the Tigers are willing to spend with a rebuild seemingly on the horizon.
Sep 30 2015Martinez went 3-for-4 with a double Wednesday night in a loss to the Rangers.It's his 32nd double (155 games) which is a surprisingly low tally considering he cracked 30 in 123 games in 2014. But he has converted some of those doubles into a remarkable 38 home runs this year. This is the second season where Martinez has delivered great numbers for fantasy owners, so the production is real. And at just 28, he should be able to deliver a few more seasons of strength before a slight taper is noticed.
Sep 22 2015Martinez went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Tuesday's 2-1 victory of the White Sox.Martinez had followed up a recent eight-game stretch of .371 hitting with an 0-for-11 slump over the last three contests. The veteran slugger's bat reawakened on Tuesday with his fifth multi-hit outing of September, and he has an outside chance of hitting the 40-homer mark in what has been a breakout 2015 campaign.
Sep 17 2015Martinez went 2-for-6 with his 37th homer, two RBI and two runs against the Twins on Wednesday.After hitting a bit of a slump in late August and early September -- he had zero multi-hit games from Aug. 27 to Sept. 10 -- Martinez has reheated over the last several days. He's now on a six-game hutting streak, during which he's gone 11-for-26 (.423). He's got a good shot at achieving his first 40-homer season in the final two weeks.
Sep 13 2015Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double and drove in three runs in the first-half of Sunday's doubleheader against Cleveland, and followed that up with a 2-for-4 effort, again with a double, in the second game.He's slashing .285/.345/.549 on the season and his 94 RBI are top-10 in the American League. But he also continues to rack up the strikeouts (157) and his K/rate is now at 29.8 percent. Only Chris Davis has struck out more times than Martinez in the American League, but Davis has a better eye (70 walks to 44). It's certainly worth watching in the future if his batting average starts to drop.
Sep 5 2015Martinez was hit by a pitch in the tricep, but still finished the game on Saturday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.Martinez went 1-for-3, hitting a two-run home run in the third inning, but didn't do much at the plate after getting hit in the arm in the seventh inning by Gavin Floyd. While Martinez did finish the game on Saturday, his game-time status should be worth monitoring in the following days.
Sep 5 2015Martinez cranked his 35th home run of the season Saturday in a win over Cleveland. He finished 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and two strikeouts. It was his first home run and run batted in since August 26. Other than his batting average, Martinez is actually delivering better numbers than he did during his breakout of 2014. He has set career totals in home runs (35), runs (78) and RBI (89), and his slash line (.287/.349/.556) is elite.
Aug 29 2015Martinez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.This will be Martinez's first missed start since June 23; he hasn't missed an inning since then except for when he had to leave early with a knee injury. Second-year hitter Tyler Collins will get the start instead.
Aug 26 2015Martinez went 2-for-4 with his 34th homer -- a two-run shot -- in Wednesday's win over the Angels.He just keeps on hitting. Martinez has now totaled as many homers this year as he did in 2014 and 2012 -- his previous top two seasons -- combined, and he's been rocking the ball particularly well of late, with six multi-hit games, four homers and 11 RBI in his last 10 contests.
Aug 24 2015Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run Monday against the Reds. He drove in three runs and now has 84 on the season.Martinez is behind only Josh Donaldson, Chris Davis, Jose Bautista and Kendrys Morales on the American League RBI leader list and is tied with boppers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols for fourth on the HR list with 33. The Tigers have been a disappointment this season, but Martinez is one of the team's few bright spots.
Aug 20 2015Martinez went 2-for-5 with a homer, a walk, two RBI and two runs Wednesday against the Cubs.On a day when the Tigers piled up 15 runs, Martinez got into the action late, capping the outburst with his two-run shot in the ninth inning. He's homered in consecutive games now after going eight straight without leaving the yard, so the 28-year-old could be right at the onset of another power binge.
Aug 18 2015Martinez was back in the lineup Tuesday after suffering a heel contusion in Sunday's game. He landed awkwardly on first base on an infield single late in the game.With rain in the forecast, the Tigers will be hard pressed to get the game against the Cubs in. But it clearly takes a lot for this guy to miss time. He's currently slashing .286/.348/.546 with 30 home runs and 76 RBI.
Aug 2 2015Martinez (knee) smacked a three-run home run Sunday against the Orioles, the day after leaving a game after fouling a ball his left knee. He has 29 home runs this season, six more than his previous career mark.He finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI and his slash line now sits at .288/.347/.561. He's tied with Nelson Cruz and Mark Teixeira for third in the AL in home runs and with Jose Bautista for fifth in RBI (71).
Aug 2 2015Martinez (knee) is in the starting lineup Sunday against the Orioles.Martinez eventually left Saturday's game after taking a foul ball off the knee, but the absence won't last long, as he's back in action just a day later. The Tigers have a scheduled day off Monday, so that could give Martinez adequate time to rest any potential ailments.
Aug 1 2015Martinez's X-rays returned negative and he remains day-to-day with a left knee contusion.Martinez initially stayed in the game after fouling a ball off his knee, but was eventually removed because of it. Tyler Collins replaced him in Saturday's game, and would likely be in line to start Sunday if Martinez is unavailable.
Aug 1 2015Martinez exited Saturday's game in the third inning for an undisclosed reason, Chris Iott of MLive.com reports.Martinez reportedly fouled a ball off his left knee earlier in the contest, which could be the cause of his early exit. The Tigers should provide an update on his status at some point in the near future, but Tyler Collins will replace him in left field for the remainder of Saturday's contest.
Jul 30 2015Martinez doubled twice and drove home three runs in Thursday's win over the Orioles.It's now been nine games since Martinez knocked a ball over the fence, but he still hasn't had any shortage of hits -- especially over the last three days, as he's gone 5-for-12 in that span. Despite a fairly high strikeout rate, he's been a credit to fantasy owners in batting average, and those 27 homers are solid gold.
Jul 25 2015Martinez's OPS now stands at .900 after going 2-for-3 in Saturday's win over Boston. He scored two runs and picked up a walk. His slash line is .287/.347/.554.Last season's average (.315) was an anomaly, but the improvement in his game was not. Martinez now has 27 HR, 65 runs and 62 RBI in 363 AB. His 30 walks already equal the total he delivered in 441 AB last season and the runs have already eclipsed his 57 from 2014. Not bad for a guy who was available on the wire last season.
Jul 5 2015Martinez hit his 10th homer in his last 12 games in Sunday's loss to Toronto. It was his 23rd of the season and ties his career mark set last season.He hit out of the four hole and will continue to do so for the next six weeks or so while Miguel Cabrera does his time on the disabled list. His average is creeping up (.285) and his OPS topped .900 (.903) for the first time since mid-April. Last season was no fluke and hitting clean up could take take Martinez to powerful heights.
Jul 5 2015With Miguel Cabrera on the DL, Martinez moved into the cleanup spot Saturday and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run shot, his 22nd home run of the season.It's his third home run in five games and ninth in his last 11, as Martinez seems to be re-discovering his early April form. The Tigers will need him to keep slugging while Miggy is sidelined, but Martinez's .284/.338/.555 slash line on the season suggests he'll be up to the task.
Jun 25 2015Martinez continued his power surge Thursday against the White Sox, going 1-for-5 with his 18th homer of the season.Martinez just keeps on piling up the home runs, as he's now gone long in consecutive games and five times in the last four. This recent stretch has done a lot to boost his RBI total, too -- if Martinez can avoid prolonged slumps, he has a legitimate chance at challenging 100.
Jun 24 2015Martinez represented the sum of the Tigers' scoring Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in an 8-2 loss to Cleveland.Martinez took an 0-for-4 and a day off following Sunday's three-homer performance, but he wasted little time hitting his 17th of the year out of the yard. Seven of those long balls have come in his last 10 games, so Martinez is truly rounding into midseason form.
Jun 23 2015Martinez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Indians.Martinez owns a sizzling .940 OPS in June, but he is 1-for-9 with seven strikeouts in his career against Indians starter Danny Salazar, so he will be held out with Salazar on the bump Tuesday night. Rajai Davis will get the nod in right field in Martinez's place.
Jun 21 2015Martinez had a huge game Sunday against the Yankees, hitting three homers and driving in six runs.He hit a pair of bombs off Masahiro Tanaka, then got rookie reliever Danny Burawa for the third. Martinez continues to demonstrate -- with emphasis -- that last year's breakout was no fluke. The average has, predictably, come down from last year's unsustainable .315, but he's still hitting a credible .275 and looks to be a legitimate 30-homer threat.
Jun 15 2015Martinez stayed red-hot Monday, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.Martinez has been on an absolute tear recently, homering in three straight games while driving in seven runs. The outfielder has raised his batting average to .270 during this hot streak, and now has 13 home runs and 34 RBI for the season.
Jun 13 2015Martinez went 2-for-4 Saturday with a double, two RBI and his 11th home run of the season.He's now slashing .262/.325/.463 on the season, and while he wasn't able to maintain his scalding April home run pace, Martinez is still providing solid value.
Jun 12 2015Martinez is out of the lineup Friday against the Indians.Martinez is 1-for-9 against Indians pitcher Danny Salazar for his career, so Friday's game must have seemed like a good opportunity to rest the Tigers' everyday right fielder. Tyler Collins will get the start in right field Friday.
May 22 2015Martinez smacked an 0-1 fastball over the right-field fence to drive in three runs to key a 6-2 win over the Astros on Friday night. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a strikeout and was also hit by a pitch.The homer erased a 2-0 deficit and pushed the Tigers into a 3-2 lead. It was Martinez's ninth home run and was particularly delicious for the fielder who had been released by the Astros early in the 2014 season.
May 18 2015Martinez smacked a single and a double in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers. He finished 2-for-4 and extended his current hit streak to nine consecutive games.He's only struck out six times in those nine games -- that's 32 at bats. And that's a far cry from where he was earlier this month (14 SO in just 29 AB). His streak has been somewhat unproductive, though -- he has just four extra-base hits in those 32 at bats and just two RBI, both courtesy of solo home runs. At least he's getting his batting eye on track and making solid contact. The power should come.
May 14 2015Martinez (back) is in the starting lineup Thursday against the Twins.Martinez left Wednesday night's game with lower back tightness, but that won't hold him out of the afternoon contest the very next day. He won't play the field, however, instead serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup with Victor Martinez getting the day off.
May 13 2015Martinez (back) left Wednesday's game due to tightness in his lower back and is considered day-to-day, Dana Wakiji of Fox Sports Detroit reports.Martinez was replaced by Rajai Davis following his early exit Wednesday. With the Tigers taking the field again early Thursday afternoon, leaving his status for the series finale with Minnesota in question.
May 12 2015Martinez hit his seventh home run of the season in Tuesday's win over Minnesota. It was his first home run and RBI since April 29.He has been scuffling in May, going 3-for-29 with 14 strikeouts. He has picked up a hit in each of his last three games, but we need to see more before we can recommend you put him back into your lineup.
May 3 2015Martinez is back in the lineup Sunday against the Royals.As expected, Martinez will return to his regular role in right field after a routine day off. He's 6-for-20 with two long balls in his career against Royals' starter Jeremy Guthrie.
May 2 2015Martinez is out of the lineup Saturday against the Royals.Martinez will receive his first off day of the season Saturday. He's had a pretty good start to the campaign, sticking .250/.280/.500 with six home runs over the first month, but the Tigers will trot Rajai Davis out in his place, batting ninth.
Apr 27 2015Martinez currently leads the Tigers with five home runs and 14 RBI, but his 20:3 K-to-BB rate have contributed to a .291 OBP, a number well below his career average (.318).There are a lot of hard swings when Martinez is at the dish and he's certainly delivering power (.526 slugging) when he connects. But we're watching that K:BB rate, as it's going to come back and bite fantasy owners at some point this season.
Apr 18 2015Martinez went 1-for-4 Saturday with a solo shot, his fifth home run of the season.He didn't hit his fifth homer of 2014 until mid-June, so he's just a bit ahead of last year's pace. Fantasy owners who bet against a big regression from Martinez are, at least in the early going, being amply rewarded.
Apr 12 2015Martinez continued to see the ball well at the plate Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two singles in a win over Cleveland. He delivered three RBI. He has three home runs this season.He's hit in five of the Tigers first six games and has a .643 slugging percentage and .929 OPS in that span. The Tigers are off to their hottest start in 30 years and Martinez is part of that success.
Apr 9 2015Martinez went 2-for-4 with his second homer and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Twins.He's off to a strong start to the season, with extra-base hits in all three games of the opening series against Minnesota. After unexpectedly breaking out last year, Martinez is going to have to prove that he's for real this season. So far, so good.
Apr 6 2015Martinez went one-for-four with a 408-foot solo home run to deep right center in Detroit's 4-0 victory over Minnesota.He also struck out later in the game. Pitchers will soon catch up to Martinez after his outstanding 2014 season, so don't expect him to maintain a high average. But the power is real.
Apr 5 2015Martinez will play right field for the Tigers on an everyday basis for the first time in his career. He has spent his previous four big-league seasons in right field.His defense isn't exactly stellar, but his offense is and he's out to prove that his breakout 2014 season was real. He'll hit in the middle of a powerful Tigers' lineup and should deliver strong power numbers, even if his batting average regresses over the year as opposing pitchers pay more attention to him. The Tigers start the season at home against the Twins and then travel to Cleveland to end the week.
Jan 16 2015Martinez agreed to a one-year contract with the Tigers on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.After the Astros cut bait in March, Martinez joined the Tigers on a minor league deal and went on to slash .315/.358/.553 with 23 home runs and 76 RBI, numbers which surprised even the most optimistic of his supporters. While his 19.5% HR/FB rate and .389 BABIP were abnormally high, Martinez has locked himself into the starting right fielder role and the middle of the lineup for Detroit, so he should be a highly useful fantasy option even with the expected regression.
Sep 14 2014Martinez was 2-of-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Indians.Martinez has been on a roll, slugging three homers with eight RBI over his last five games alone. With a .305/.350/.557 slash line to go with 22 home runs and 71 RBI, the 27-year-old outfielder has become an integral part of Detroit's lineup this season.
Sep 12 2014Martinez had another big night at the dish going 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and four RBI in the Tigers' 7-2 win over the Royals on Friday.What a boon Martinez has been for Detroit. He popped his 21st homer, a two-run shot and then added a two-run triple to provide most of the Tigers' offense. He's now hitting a solid .305 and has driven in 69 runs on the year.
Aug 30 2014Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double and one run scored in Friday's victory over the White Sox.Martinez continues his roll at the dish, as the 27-year-old outfielder is now batting .480 (12-for-25) with four multi-hit efforts during his last six games. With 17 homers, 26 doubles and an outstanding .908 OPS over 94 games, it is now completely safe to call 2014 a breakout campaign for Martinez.
Aug 19 2014Martinez swatted his 17th homer of the season in Tuesday's win over the Rays.Martinez's eighth-inning blast broke a 4-4 tie that gave the Tigers a short-lived lead. He's no longer raking in the extra-base hits at the same rate he did in June and July, but Martinez has at least homered twice and driven in four runs over his last five games.
Aug 15 2014Martinez went 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk Thursday against the Pirates.It was his first homer since Aug. 2. The multi-hit outing -- a relative rarity for Martinez since his red-hot stretch in June and early July -- nudged his average back over .300; he'd fallen to .299 for the first time since mid-June following Tuesday's 0-for-4.
Aug 13 2014Martinez is out of the lineup Wednesday vs. the Pirates, Matthew Mowery of The Oakland Press reports.Martinez has endured a sharp correction to his batting average over the last two weeks, batting 11-for-49 (.224) to bring him below the .300 mark for the season. The Tigers willingness to trade away Austin Jackson at the deadline will give Martinez a decent amount of job security, but don't be surprised if his numbers tail off from here following his unsustainable early-season production.
Jul 31 2014Martinez went 2-for-3 with his 14th homer, a walk and a pair of runs Thursday against the White Sox.After a little cooling period, Martinez is heating up once more -- he's gone 5-for-10 with two walks, a triple, the homer and three RBI over the last three games.
Jul 29 2014Martinez was a late addition to Tuesday's lineup, MLB.com's Jason Beck reports.He will play right field and bat seventh, with Nick Castellanos getting scratched late at third base, and a positional musical chairs ensuing. Martinez has predictably cooled off since his blistering June and early-July. Over his last seven games, Martinez has gone 3-for-22 (.136) with just one extra-base hit, but it's good to see the Tigers are giving him a bit of a leash to try to find himself again at the plate.
Jul 29 2014Martinez is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the White Sox, MLive.com reports.After starting the last three games, Martinez will take a seat Tuesday versus left-hander Jose Quintana. Though he dealt with a quad injury last week, there has not been any indication that his absence is related to the issue. Detroit will go with Torii Hunter, Austin Jackson and Rajai Davis in the outfield Tuesday.
Jul 25 2014Martinez (quadriceps) is in the lineup Friday, batting fifth, MLive's James Schmehl reports.He had missed the last two games with the injury, but he's healthy enough to get back out there for this weekend's series against the Angels. While his .382 BABIP demonstrates how fortunate he's been this season, it's not unrealistic to see something in the .270-.280 range over the rest of the season, with modest pop and solid counting stats batting in the middle of the Tigers' lineup.
Jul 24 2014Manager Brad Ausmus confirmed that Martinez was a late scratch Thursday night due to upper quad tightness, James Schmehl of MLive.com reports.Martinez should be available to pinch hit Thursday night according to Ausmus, so he doesn't appear to be far off from a return. All signs are pointing to the left fielder rejoining the lineup Friday night in Anaheim.
Jul 24 2014Martinez (quad) was a late scratch Thursday against the Angels.Martinez was originally slated to return to action for the Thursday night tilt, but it sounds as if the quad muscle that had been causing previous issues may have tightened up on him during pregame warmups. He'll miss his second straight contest as a result, with Rajai Davis taking over for him in left field. Martinez will likely eye a return to the lineup at some point this weekend.
Jul 24 2014Martinez (quad) is back in the lineup Thursday against the Angels.Martinez was held out of Wednesday's lineup due to tightness in his quad, but will return to his regular spot in left field Thursday night. Martinez already has seven multi-hit games on the month to go with a 1.001 July OPS, and will be a welcome addition to the Detroit lineup.
Jul 23 2014Martinez was kept out of Wednesday's lineup due to an upper quad injury, James Schmehl of MLive.com reports.The injury is not considered serious, with manager Brad Ausmus suggesting that Martinez will be available off the bench for pinch-hitting duty. There's a good chance Martinez will return to the lineup for Thursday's series opener with the Angels.
Jul 23 2014Martinez is out of the lineup Wednesday in Arizona.Martinez will thus sit out two of the three games at Chase Field in order to keep everyone fresh. In his place, Rajai Davis will again cover left field, while Don Kelly steps in for Torii Hunter in right.
Jul 21 2014Martinez isn't in the lineup Monday at Arizona, Matthew B. Mowery of the Oakland Press reports.Martinez will hand off left field to Rajai Davis, who is batting ninth in the order. Speaking of hitting, Martinez is slashing .371/.403/.645 with four homers in 62 at-bats during the month of July.
Jul 7 2014Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's loss 7-3 loss to the Rays.Martinez continues to be one of the biggest surprises of the 2014 campaign, as the 26-year-old slugger is sporting a .391/.417/.870 slash line with three home runs and six RBI during his current six-game hitting streak.
Jun 30 2014Martinez has entered the lineup Monday against the Athletics for Victor Martinez, who was scratched, Matthew B. Mowery of the Oakland Press reports.A reason wasn't given for Victor's day off, but no injury concern is apparent at the moment. J.D. himself has been on point at the plate in June, batting .354/.360/.720 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 82 at-bats. With only manning DH on his mind, he'll have a great opportunity to keep up the pace.
Jun 30 2014Martinez is out of the Tigers' lineup Monday against the Athletics.Martinez has been raking in June, slashing .354/.360/.720 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 82 at-bats. Nevertheless, he'll take a seat for the first time since June 11, as he hands over left field to Rajai Davis.
Jun 26 2014Martinez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run, two RBI and his ninth home run of the season against the Rangers on Wednesday.Martinez extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. The outfielder is hitting an absurd .369/.382/.815 in June. Obviously, you can't expect Martinez to remain that hot, but ride it while you can.
Jun 24 2014Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Rangers.The Tigers' outfielder is now slashing .314/.346/.619 with eight home runs in just 118 at-bats this year. His .364 BABIP and 23.3 percent HR/FB ratio (more than double his previous career high of 11.6 percent) both signify that this run won't last. Given his lack of a track record, selling high on Martinez may be difficult, but it would be the optimal move.
Jun 20 2014Martinez was 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in the Tigers win over Cleveland on Friday night.That's four homers in five games, and seven on the season to go with 25 RBI for the Tigers' outfielder. He is listed as a part time player on their depth chart, but if he keeps hitting like this, they will continue to find ways to get him into the lineup. Once seen as a top level prospect, his star has faded of late, but he's just 26 so there is still some potential upside. In any case, ride him while he's hot.
Jun 19 2014Martinez went 1-for-3 and homered for the third time in four games Thursday against the Royals.A former top prospect for Houston, Martinez is only now breaking out at age 26. He certainly enjoyed the four-game series against Kansas City, with those three homers and a double among his seven hits. He's still going to struggle to find fantasy-relevant playing time in the Detroit outfield, though.
Jun 18 2014Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Royals.Martinez was responsible for the lone run the Tigers were able to produce Wednesday, and has now hit safely in each of the last eight games he's started. He's homered twice in the past three games, and three times total this month, bringing his season slash line to .299/.333/.546. His platoon-mate, Rajai Davis, sports a .278 batting average himself, so the discrepancy likely isn't far enough to force manager Brad Ausmus to re-divide the playing time just yet.
Jun 16 2014Martinez isn't in the Tigers' lineup Monday against the Royals.After starting four consecutive games, Martinez is taking a seat, while Rajai Davis handles left field and the top spot in the order. During his stay in the lineup, Martinez contributed a hit in each one, batting .313 (5-for-16) with two RBI and one run scored.
Jun 14 2014Martinez is starting in left field and batting fifth Saturday against the Twins.Saturday is Martinez's third consecutive start while Rajai Davis has only started six of the Tigers' last 12 games. It looks like the Tigers are going with a platoon in left field, which hurts the value of both Davis and Martinez.
Jun 3 2014Martinez made his lone hit of the night count Tuesday, going yard with a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth in a loss to the Jays.Martinez provided a momentary sign of life for the Tigers, as his three-run shot brought them within two of the Jays who had cracked a 0-0 goose egg in the top of the inning with five runs of their own. Normally in a clutch situation like this, the culprit would the other Martinez -- veteran slugger Victor -- but on this night it was the 26-year-old outfielder who lit up the Detroit sky. He now has three long balls, 14 RBI, two stolen bases, seven runs and a .262 average in limited playing time (61 at-bats) this season.
May 14 2014Martinez went 0-for-3 with a walk while batting fifth for the Tigers in Wednesday's win over Baltimore.With Torii Hunter nursing sore ribs, Martinez received a rare start against a right-handed pitcher. Wednesday marked his fifth start in May in 13 games, and he's been placed in the No. 5 spot for four of those starts. Martinez's hold on a roster spot could slip later this season, however, once Andy Dirks returns from a back injury in June.
Apr 30 2014Martinez is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.Martinez has gone 2-for-9 with two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base in four games since being recalled last Monday. He will start in left field for the third time as a Tiger on Wednesday and bat fifth against White Sox starter Hector Noesi.
Apr 21 2014The Tigers recalled Martinez from Triple-A Toledo on Monday, James Schmehl of MLive.com reports.It's not certain who Martinez will replace on the roster, but it seems likely that a reliever will be removed from the roster to open a spot. Martinez, who made swing changes over the offseason after being release by the Astros, mashed with Toledo, tallying 10 home runs and 22 RBI in 17 games. However, he may find playing time hard to come by with the big club, as the Tigers have used the starting outfield of Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson, and Torii Hunter 11 times in 15 games this season.
Mar 24 2014Martinez signed a minor league deal with the Tigers on Monday, James Schmehl of MLive.com reports.Martinez was released last week by the Astros and he will report to minor league camp for the Tigers. Once a hot prospect in Houston, his stock has cooled a bit and he will look for a change of scenery to jump back on track this season, though it will likely be at the minor league level.
Feb 25 2014Martinez completely revamped his swing during the offseason in an effort to keep his bat in the zone longer, according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle.Martinez tested out his new swing during the Venezuelan Winter League and hit six home runs in 24 games. It will be interesting to see whether or not he shows continued improvement during spring training as he attempts to reclaim a spot on the Astros' 40-man roster.
Jan 16 2014Martinez hit .293 (29-for-93) with six doubles, six home runs and 18 RBI over 24 games for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League.Outrighted from the Astros' 40-man roster in November after battling injuries and ineffectiveness during his time in Houston, Martinez likely needs a standout performance this spring to earn consideration for a roster spot out of camp. The 26-year-old outfielder will likely begin the 2014 season in Triple-A, where he will try to stay healthy, first and foremost. If Martinez remains on the field, recapturing the success he experienced in the minors would go a long way toward revitalizing his career.
Nov 20 2013Martinez was outrighted off the Astros' 40-man roster Wednesday.An 8.2 K/BB ratio led to a .272 OBP for Martinez in 2013. It's clear he doesn't factor into the team's plans for 2014, as they decided to remove him from the 40-man in order to protect younger prospects from the Rule 5 draft.
Sep 13 2013Martinez (wrist) was activated from the 15-day DL on Friday, CSN Houston reports.Martinez won't be in the lineup Friday following his activation, but with the Houston outfield in flux heading into the 2014 campaign, he figures to factor prominently in the mix for at-bats over the season's final two weeks. Martinez was batting .256 with seven homers and 36 RBI through 78 games before suffering the wrist injury in late July.
Sep 2 2013Martinez (wrist) has started taking part in batting practice in Florida, CSN Houston reports.Participation in batting practice marks Martinez's first baseball activity since he landed on the DL in late July. There is some hope that he'll be activated to the big club before the season comes to a close, but setbacks must be avoided and steady progress made by his healing left wrist.
Aug 12 2013Martinez (wrist) is not expected to play for awhile, Richard Dean of CSN Houston reports.Martinez will fly to Florida on Tuesday to continue rehab and treatment on his sprained left wrist. Robbie Grossman has filled in admirably in his stead and should continue to see regular playing time in Martinez's absence.
Jul 26 2013The Astros placed Martinez on the disabled list Friday with a sprained left wrist, Julia Morales of CSN Houston reports.Martinez injured his wrist sliding into second, and it looks like it has knocked him out of action for at least the next two weeks. Robbie Grossman will join the team Saturday to bolster the team's outfield.
Jul 26 2013Martinez left Friday's game with an left wrist injury, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.Martinez reportedly sustained the injury while sliding, likely during his fourth inning double. The Astros said they will have an update on his situation after the game, so the extent of the injury should be known shortly.
Jul 26 2013Martinez is in the Astros' lineup Friday in Toronto, where he's covering left field and batting sixth in the order, the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez missed Wednesday's game due to a sore back but returned to action Thursday, taking on DH duties. Because he is able to handle a defensive assignment, the injury has seemingly diminished enough to ensure that he's near full health. Nevertheless, his production has really waned in July, as he has posted no homers, six RBI, and one run scored in 56 at-bats.
Jul 25 2013Martinez (back) is in the lineup Thursday against the Blue Jays.Martinez will slot in at designated hitter for the Astros, so there's still a chance that he's bothered enough by his back that the Astros want to limit his defensive responsibilities. It won't make that much of a difference for fantasy purposes, but expect to see Martinez back in left field in the coming days.
Jul 24 2013Martinez is out of the Astros' lineup Wednesday versus the Athletics.Martinez, who was removed from Tuesday's outing following a collision with fellow outfielder Justin Maxwell, appeared to take the brunt of the hit. Because outfielder Brandon Barnes (calf) is out of commission as well, Chris Carter will take on left field, while Maxwell covers center.
Jul 23 2013Martinez left Tuesday's game in the top of the ninth inning after colliding with Justin Maxwell in the outfield.Martinez appeared shaken up and should be considered day-to-day until more information regarding his condition becomes available. With Brandon Barnes (calf) departing earlier in the game Jake Elmore, who replaced Maxwell, became the second bench player to man the outfield for the Astros on Tuesday.
Jul 20 2013Martinez is out of the Astros' lineup Saturday against the Mariners, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.Martinez will take a seat for the third time this month, while Chris Carter moves out to left field and Brett Wallace mans first base. Meanwhile, Martinez has been steady but unspectacular in July, hitting .267/.283/.311 with five RBI and no other counting stats to show for his efforts.
Jul 6 2013Martinez is not in the Astros' lineup Saturday in Texas, the Houston Chronicle reports.In his stead, Jimmy Paredes is covering right field and batting sixth in the order. While he has recorded a hit in five of the past eight outings, his batting line still resides just below league average at .248/.273/.400 in 230 at-bats.
Jul 4 2013Martinez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Rays, Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez is coming off a month of June where he hit .207 with four extra-base hits, and he's just 2-for-9 so far in July. He'll ride the pine Thursday against right-hander Chris Archer.
Jun 25 2013Martinez is not in the Astros' lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals.Martinez will step aside for Chris Carter, who will cover left field and bat cleanup for the Astros. Despite tallying hits in four of his last five appearances, Martinez's line still sits at .250/.275/.413 with seven home runs in 196 at-bats this season.
Jun 21 2013Martinez is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Cubs, Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez, who made 26 consecutive starts from May 19 to June 15, will sit Friday for the second time in six days. He's slashing just .200/.229/.262 so far this month.
Jun 16 2013Martinez is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the White Sox, Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports.The 25-year-old will sit Sunday for the first time in close to a month, with Trevor Crowe manning right and Chris Carter playing left in the finale against the South Siders.
Jun 5 2013Martinez was one of six Astros to go deep Wednesday, finishing with a run scored and a pair of RBI in the win over Baltimore.Martinez continues to see everyday at-bats since May 12th and has responded with four home runs and 14 RBI over that span. He hit cleanup Wednesday and figures to hit in the middle of the Astros' lineup for the near future.
May 30 2013Martinez went 4-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI in Thursday's game against the Rockies.The four hits were a career-high for Martinez and they all were singles. He was aggressive at the plate seeing only nine pitches in the five at-bats. Martinez has been hot at the plate over the past nine games with a .416 batting average and two home runs over that stretch. If his bat stays hot, there will be no reason the Astros will keep him out of the lineup.
May 23 2013Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run off James Shields as the Astros beat the Royals 3-1 on Wednesday.Martinez battled back from an 0-2 count and launched the ball into the right field seats, giving the Astros a two-run lead in the first inning. It was his fourth home run of the season and he is now batting .250 on the season. Manager Bo Porter has recently indicated that he has finally settled on his outfield configuration and Martinez will receive consistent starts out in left. Though his overall fantasy value is still limited, an every-day job will certainly help boost that.
May 18 2013Martinez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game in Pittsburgh, mlb.com's Brian McTaggart reports.Trevor Crowe will get the nod in left field, breaking up a stretch of three consecutive starts for Martinez. The timing is a bit odd given that Martinez is 5-for-13 with four extra-base hits over his last four games.
May 15 2013Martinez continued his modest recent hot streak, Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with his third home run of the season.After seeing his batting average slip to .203 before the Astros' series against the Tigers, Martinez has collected five hits in his last 10 at bats. Martinez wil be given every chance to run away with the Astros left field job this season.
May 14 2013Martinez is going to continue to be given the chance to be the Astros' starting left fielder despite his .203 average, the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez has had a pretty long look in the past but has yet to show that much promise. He'll continue to take turns in the outfield until Astros manager Bo Porter determines whether Martinez will be a starter on the 2014 roster.
May 10 2013Martinez is not in the lineup Friday against the Rangers.In three starts since returning from the disabled list Monday, Martinez has gone 1-for-10 with a double and six strikeouts. He'll get to sit back and observe Friday while Chris Carter serves as DH and Carlos Pena mans first.
May 6 2013Martinez (knee) has been activated from the 15-day DL.Martinez will take back the left field spot and could return to the lineup as early as Tuesday against the Angels.
May 1 2013Martinez (knee) began a rehab assignment Tuesday, according to the team's official site.Martinez went onto the disabled list on April 20, so he shouldn't be out much longer than the minimum. A return by the start of next week seems reasonable.
Apr 20 2013Martinez landed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday due to a right knee sprain.With the imminent return of Fernando Martinez (oblique) to Houston's lineup, it appears that Chris Carter and Brandon Barnes will man left field in J.D.'s stead. Considering the latter Martinez has missed between 1-to-3 weeks with a similar injury in the past, expect him to fulfill the aptly named 15-day DL.
Apr 20 2013Martinez (knee) is not in the Astros' lineup Saturday against Cleveland.Martinez left Friday's game in the fourth inning with what was eventually termed a sprained right knee. As long as he's sidelined, Chris Carter should remain a staple in the lineup, as his positional flexibility allows him to man both first base and left field. Meanwhile, consider Martinez day-to-day.
Apr 19 2013Martinez is listed as day to day after spraining his right knee in Friday's win over the Indians, MLB.com reports.Martinez sprained his knee while checking his swing during an at bat. It's an odd injury, but Martinez said he hurt his knee in a similar way twice before and ended up missing one to three weeks. Martinez said he was able to put a significant amount of weight on the knee later Friday night, so he may not be out too long.
Apr 19 2013Martinez exited Friday's game after injuring his right leg during a fourth inning at-bat.After a pitch passed through the strike zone, Martinez's knee buckled awkwardly and he collapsed in a heap next to the plate. At least the night wasn't a complete loss for Martinez, as he connected on a two-run blast in the second inning to kick off the game's scoring. The Astros medical staff will likely evaluate Martinez after the game with the hope that he avoided any kind of serious knee injury.
Apr 9 2013Martinez is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.After being removed from Monday's game due to a mental error, it appears as though manager Bo Porter is comfortable giving Martinez another spin in right field.
Mar 24 2013Martinez was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Houston Chronicle reports.With Martinez in the minors, Brandon Barnes could make the 25-man roster and Rick Ankiel may begin the season as the starting right fielder.
Mar 1 2013Martinez could be used in multiple outfield spots this season, the Houston Chronicle reports.With converted first baseman Chris Carter slated to start in left, it wouldn't be surprising for Martinez to see time in the early going as a defensive replacement for Carter. Martinez should be able to log 400 plate appearances as a fourth outfielder on the young Astros.
Feb 25 2013Martinez will need to re-establish himself this year to have a future with the Astros, according to the team's official site.Coming off an impressive major league debut in 2011, Martinez struggled last year in his first full season in the big leagues. He hit .241 with 11 homers and 55 RBI in 395 at-bats before undergoing surgery at the end of the year to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand. Watch his progress closely this spring, as it will be critical to his long-term future.
Nov 29 2012Martinez fell on his hand Thursday, aggravating a previous injury, MLB.com reports.Martinez underwent surgery for the injured hand in September and was scheduled to face a four-to-six week timetable. It appears that his recovery will now take a little while longer, but it's not expected to prevent him from being a full participant in spring training activities.
Sep 27 2012Martinez had the hook of the hamate bone from his left hand removed on Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reports.It will be four-to-six weeks until he is able to resume full baseball activity, at which point they will make a decision about winter ball.
Sep 24 2012Martinez will have surgery Wednesday on a bone in his hand and will be out for the remainder of the season, MLB.com reports.The surgery will sideline Martinez for four-to-six weeks, though the Astros are confident he can recover in time to play winter ball. Martinez finishes the season with a .241/.311/.375 line and 11 home runs and 55 RBI.
Sep 14 2012The Astros are exploring winter ball options for Martinez in both the Dominican Republic and Venezuela to try to get him back on track after a letdown sophomore season, the Houston Chronicle reports.The team is leaning towards Venezuela, but it sounds like they are receiving resistance from Martinez, who fears for his safety in a country with strained relations with the U.S.
Sep 3 2012Martinez was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday and will be available to play Tuesday at Pittsburgh, the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez struggled initially following his demotion on August 10 but has recovered nicely to bat 11-for-39 (.282) with five runs scored and four RBI over his last 10 games. He will provide outfield depth the rest of the season.
Aug 7 2012Martinez is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Nationals, Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez, who went 0-for-5 on Monday, will give way to Ben Francisco in left field Tuesday.
Aug 5 2012Martinez (elbow) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Braves, the Astros' official Twitter page reports.Martinez has been dealing with elbow soreness caused by him slipping in the dugout Monday, but he was able to play Friday and Saturday. Steve Pearce will start in left field and bat sixth Sunday against right-hander Kris Medlen.
Aug 2 2012Martinez's elbow soreness was caused when he slipped and fell in the dugout on Monday, according to the team's official site.Martinez was available to play Wednesday but wound up sitting the game out. No word yet if a rookie janitor was to blame when the Astros traded their veteran janitorial crew to a contender.
Aug 1 2012Martinez is dealing with elbow soreness and is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Brewers, the Houston Chronicle reports.The injury is not considered serious, as Martinez is available to come off the bench. Expect him to return to the lineup Friday against Atlanta after a team off day Thursday.
Jul 25 2012Martinez, who has been on the bench for three straight days with a sore shoulder, was injured crashing into an outfield wall over the weekend, according the team's official site.Martinez tested his arm before Tuesday's game and was able to hit but not throw. He is expected to be back in the Astros lineup for their next game.
Jul 25 2012Martinez (shoulder) returned to Wednesday's lineup and went 2-for-4 with a double against the Reds.Martinez missed three straight games after tweaking his shoulder when he crashed into the wall over the weekend.
Jul 24 2012Martinez will not start Tuesday for the third straight day due to a sore shoulder, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.Martinez was able to pinch-hit Monday, but the injury has prevented him from playing the field for a few days. Consider Martinez day-to-day for now.
Jul 22 2012Martinez is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, the Astros' official Twitter page reports.Justin Maxwell will move over to left field while Jordan Schafer mans center and Chris Johnson bats cleanup against right-hander Josh Collmenter. Martinez's average on the season fell back below .240 with an 0-for-3 performance Saturday.
Jul 6 2012Martinez (upper leg) remains in the starting lineup Friday against the Brewers, the team's official Twitter reports.Martinez strained his left gluteus muscle Tuesday, but wasn't forced to miss any time with the injury. He has now started the last three games and should be considered healthy for now.
Jul 5 2012Martinez strained a left gluteus muscle on Tuesday and was experiencing soreness on Wednesday, according to the team's official site.He's reportedly a little sore, and it does not bother him while running -- just swinging. The team may give him a day or two off to get back to full strength.
Jun 27 2012Martinez homered for the third time in four games in Tuesday's win over the Padres.Martinez's timing is good, with him on the verge of getting sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He'll have an opportunity to get extended playing time now with Justin Maxwell on the DL.
Jun 14 2012Martinez hit a grand slam in Thursday's win at San Francisco.Martinez has cooled off considerably since a hot April, but he's shown minor signs of life recently, reaching base safely in nine of 12 games in June. He's also homered in two of the last four contests.
Jun 10 2012Martinez launched the first pitch of the second inning into the left field seats as the Astros held on to beat the White Sox on Sunday.Martinez was 1-for-5 as Houston's cleanup hitter. He has reached base in 10 of his last 11 games, raising his season splits to .234/.330/.370. Martinez joined teammates Justin Maxwell, Jose Altuve, and Brett Wallace in going yard Sunday.
May 28 2012Martinez is not in the lineup for the Astros for the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Rockies, the Houston Chronicle reports.Martinez, who went 0-for-3 in the first game on Monday, will get a breather with Travis Buck moving into the starting lineup for the second game of the series.
May 26 2012Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run to help lead the Astros past the Dodgers 3-1 on Friday.The home run by Martinez turned out to be the deciding factor after the Dodgers plated just one run all game. He has now hit safely in four of his last five games, is hitting .243 on the season, and is finally starting to show signs of life. Martinez is still just a low-end option in the outfield, but he definitely has the potential to exceed that.
May 21 2012Martinez is back in Monday's lineup after sitting out Sunday, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.Martinez picked up his first extra-base hit since April 25 in Saturday's game, but he is still hitting just .114 for the month of May. Martinez will play left field and bat seventh Monday night.
May 15 2012Martinez is back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, the Astros' official Twitter page reports.This is just Martinez's second time in the lineup in the past six games, and he's really struggling. He has just one hit in his last 35 at-bats, and he'll have to try to get back on track against tough lefty Cliff Lee.
May 14 2012Martinez is sitting for the fourth time in five games Monday, Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports. He is amid a 1-for-35 slump.With Martinez back on the bench, Travis Buck is playing left field and batting seventh for the Astros on Monday night. Martinez's slump has cost him the starting job in left field -- at least temporarily.
May 13 2012Martinez is back in Sunday's lineup against the Pirates, Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports.The slumping Martinez is back in the Astros' lineup after starting the last three games on the bench. An 0-for-19 skid has seen his average drop to .230, but perhaps the off-time will help him get back on track.
May 12 2012Martinez is expected to return to the starting lineup Sunday, MLB.com reports.Martinez was held out of the starting lineup the last three days. He's in a prolonged slump, getting just one hit through his last 10 games (29 at-bats).
May 12 2012Martinez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates, Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports.That's three consecutive games Martinez has began the game on the bench. Jason Maxwell will get the nod in left field once again.
May 11 2012Martinez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates, mlb.com reports.Martinez is mired in a massive slump that has dropped his batting average to .230. With just one hit in his last 10 games, Martinez now has a much shorter leash and needs to perform in his next few starts to maintain his status as the Astros' everyday left fielder.
May 9 2012Martinez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.After being dropped to the sixth spot in the order Tuesday and going 0-for-3, Martinez will be held out of the lineup altogether Wednesday. Martinez is just 1-for-28 since Apr. 28, so the bench is probably the best place to put him for the time being if he is still part of your fantasy team.
May 7 2012Martinez is back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.Martinez was given the day off Sunday after going 1-for-22 over the prior seven games. He still boasts an impressive total of 20 RBI this season, but he will have to regain his stroke to remain a regular in fantasy lineups.
May 6 2012Martinez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, the Astros' official Twitter page reports.Travis Buck is getting the nod in left field and batting sixth against right-handed Adam Wainwright. Martinez, who will sit Sunday for the second time in the last seven days, is batting just .247 on the year, but he has 20 RBI to go along with three homers.
Apr 30 2012Martinez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets, according to MLB.com's Alyson Footer.Martinez has picked up just five hits over his last seven games - including zero in each of his last two - so he will get a day off Monday. Travis Buck will get the start in right field against Mets starter R.A. Dickey.
Apr 26 2012Martinez had a big night at the plate Wednesday against the Brewers, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and three RBI.Martinez has taken 14 walks this year, compared to the 13 he took all last season. His power is up from last season as well, making him one of the few bright spots on an otherwise lackadaisical lineup card.
Apr 18 2012Martinez is not in the lineup Wednesday, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.No reason is being given for Martinez's absence, although it's worth noting that Jordan Schafer was limited to a pinch hit appearance Tuesday because of the flu. In any case, we'll assume a one-game break from the lineup for Martinez barring further information from manager Brad Mills.
Apr 15 2012Martinez is the only Astro to hit safely in all eight games this season, according to the team's official site.Martinez has really started the season fast, owning a .379/.455/.724 split on the young season. We don't expect him to sustain those numbers, particularly the high slugging percentage, but owners should enjoy the hot streak while it lasts.
Apr 13 2012Martinez was 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season, two runs scored and two knocked in Friday night.The Miami native had to enjoy the big hit in his hometown, and he is surely enjoying his hot start with a .385 average and eight runs batted in already on the young season.
Apr 7 2012Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His two-run homer came in the fourth inning and then he drove in Travis Buck with a single in the seventh inning. Martinez is getting the early opportunity to be the starting left fielder for the season and thru two games he has taken advantage of the opportunity. It should continue to help him hitting in front of Carlos Lee in the batting order, who is one of the few players the Astros have in their lineup to protect him.
Apr 2 2012As expected, Martinez has made the 25-man roster, according to the team's official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez hasn't made great contract this spring but he does have four doubles. He will look to build on his freshman campaign when the season begins Friday.
Mar 20 2012Martinez appears to have locked up the starting left field position and will likely bat in the middle of the Astros' lineup. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has looked good this spring, hitting .393 with a team best 12 ribbies. He can hit for a decent average and has developing power, though the questions persist about his ultimate upside.
Sep 20 2011Martinez went 3-for-5 with a homer and pair of RBI in Tuesday's loss at Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is in a groove right now with a base hit in seven of his last eight games, batting .382 (13-for-34) over that span.
Sep 6 2011Martinez is out of the Astros' lineup for Tuesday's game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez has played in 37 of the Astros' past 38 games, and could probably use a day off. This is the first time in his professional career he's played into September.
Aug 31 2011Martinez has 28 RBI in August, the most by any rookie in Astros history in a single month, according to Astros radio broadcaster Brett Dolan. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The National League record is 29 RBI for a rookie in a month. Martinez will have a chance to go for the record on Wednesday against Pittsburgh.
Aug 20 2011Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and four RBI in the Astros' win over the Giants on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The home run was Martinez's first since his four-home run tear in the early part of August. Martinez has been a constant presence in the third spot of the Astros' lineup since said four-HR tear, and he should stick in the outfield even after the Astros activate Jordan Schafer from the DL.
Aug 14 2011Martinez went 0-for-4 Friday, lining out to second base with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of a 1-0 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He continues to make solid contact even when he doesn't get the results, and eight of his first 12 major league hits have gone for extra bases (including a four-HR-in-six-game streak). Scouts still question his ultimate upside, but Martinez is looking like a very interesting bat for the rebuilding Astros.
Aug 3 2011Martinez hit his first major league home run Wednesday against the Reds as part of a huge 3-for-4 performance. He also had four RBI in the contest. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A huge performance for the young prospect, who was called up on Sunday to replace the departed Hunter Pence. He figures to get consistent playing time as the team tries out some of its young prospects.
Jul 30 2011Martinez will be in the starting lineup for the Astros on Sunday, reports Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Martinez is filling Hunter Pence's roster spot, who was traded Friday, and the assumption is the prospect will get plenty of playing time, or the team wouldn't have called him up. Sunday will be his first major league start.
Jul 29 2011Martinez got called up by the Astros in the wake of the Hunter Pence trade, the Astros' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The presumption here is that Martinez will play - otherwise, why else call him up to the 40-man roster and have him skip a level? The Astros might not be done, either - there's plenty of speculation that Michael Bourn could also be in play.
Mar 3 2011The Astros will reevaluate Martinez's quadriceps strain on Thursday, according the team's official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The team will continue to hold him out of games and drills to rest his quad. We should know more on his situation later in the week.