Martinez tossed 4.2 innings against Texas in a Cactus League contest Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.
Martinez served up a homer to the first batter he faced (Ezequiel Duran) in the outing, but the hurler gave up only one more run after that. He threw "84 or 85" pitches, per Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan, and appears to be just about ready to go for the regular season. Martinez is tentatively lined up to make his first start April 1 at home against Colorado.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Returns from WBC
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Martinez has returned to the Padres after playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.
Though Team USA remains alive in the tournament and is set to face Japan or Mexico in the final Tuesday, Martinez has opted to return to Padres camp to prepare for the regular season. The right-handed hurler pitched in one WBC game, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings against Mexico. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Martinez's decision to rejoin San Diego stems from the fact that he wasn't scheduled to pitch again for Team USA. He's slated to fill a spot at the back end of the Padres' rotation this season.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: To start Cactus League opener
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Martinez will start the Padres' Cactus League opener Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Martinez logged 10 starts and 37 relief appearances last season with San Diego, but he's expected to have more of a permanent rotation spot steering into 2023. The 32-year-old right-hander is coming off an overall 3.47 ERA and 95:41 K:BB across 106.1 innings, and he's probably worthy of a late-round dart throw in most standard fantasy formats.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Back with Friars
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Martinez agreed to a three-year contract with the Padres on Tuesday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander declined his $6.5 million player option with the Padres for 2023 last week, but he quickly reached a new deal with the club. Martinez opened 2022 in the rotation but shifted to the bullpen in June and eventually served as the fill-in closer, and he finished the campaign with a 3.47 ERA over 106.1 innings. The 32-year-old should have more staying power as a starter next season since Mike Clevinger and Sean Manaea -- who combined for 50 starts in 2022 -- are now free agents.
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Nick Martinez: Declines option for 2023
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Martinez has declined his $6.5 million player option with the Padres for 2023, making him a free agent.
Martinez signed with San Diego on a one-year deal in December 2021 and posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 95:41 K:BB across 106.1 innings. The right-hander opened the campaign in the rotation before he was shifted to the bullpen, and he briefly served as the team's closer until Josh Hader got back on track.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Takes loss Thursday
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Martinez (4-4) was tagged with the loss and a blown save against the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.
Martinez was summoned from the bullpen in the seventh inning after St. Louis put two runners on base with one out. The Padres were leading 3-1 at the time, but Martinez walked Tommy Edman and served up a grand slam to Brendan Donovan to give up the lead. It was the third time in his past eight outings that Martinez has given up multiple runs, and the righty reliever has a 7.00 ERA over that stretch. He's no longer in the mix for saves with Josh Hader having rediscovered his form.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Gives way to Hader as closer
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Martinez earned a hold against Arizona on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in one inning.
With San Diego up by two runs in the eighth inning, Martinez was summoned from the bullpen, and he worked around a two-out single to preserve the lead. Notably, Josh Hader got the ball in the ninth, retiring the side in order for his 31st save. Hader had been removed from the closer role in late August due to a series of rough outings, but he's notched each of the Padres' past two saves while Martinez hasn't picked up a save since Aug. 30. That's probably enough to expect Hader to get most of the closing opportunities moving forward, though Martinez has earned manager Bob Melvin's trust and could still see an occasional save chance.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Snags win
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Martinez (4-3) struck out two in a perfect inning and earned the win Tuesday over the Diamondbacks.
Martinez pitched the ninth inning with the Padres down by a run, and he became the winning pitcher when Jorge Alfaro delivered a walkoff two-run single. Martinez had struggled with two runs allowed in each of his last two appearances, so it was encouraging to see him get back on track. He's at a 3.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 84:36 K:BB with eight saves and three holds this year through 25 relief appearances, though he's also made 10 starts.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Shaky in eighth save
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Martinez allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one in one inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Giants.
Martinez entered with a three-run cushion and gave up a two-run blast to Joc Pederson before closing out the contest. Those were the first runs Martinez has allowed in August -- he entered Tuesday on a 15-inning scoreless streak. The strong pitching has earned him the primary closer gig since Josh Hader was demoted from the role earlier this month. Martinez has played a versatile role this year, pitching to a 3.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 82:35 K:BB with eight saves, three holds and a 3-3 record across 93.1 innings through 34 appearances (10 starts). The right-hander can be expected to function as a traditional closer for now, though he also has the ability to cover multiple high-leverage innings as necessary.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Secures another save
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Martinez picked up the save against the Giants on Monday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out one batter over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Martinez was announced as the team's primary closer by manager Bob Melvin earlier in the day, so it was no surprise when he was called upon with two outs in the eighth inning and San Francisco down by four but threatening with the bases loaded. The right-hander didn't start off well, allowing consecutive singles that allowed all three inherited runners to score, but he managed to get the third out and then put up a scoreless ninth frame to register the save. Martinez has earned a save in each of his past three appearances and is up to seven on the season.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Remains in closer role
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Manager Bob Melvin stated Monday that Martinez will continue to be his first choice in save chances, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Martinez has been used as the team's top closing option since Melvin announced Josh Hader would get a break from the closer's role earlier in the month, and the skipper will continue his current bullpen strategy until further notice. Martinez is in the midst of an impressive scoreless streak, appearing in 10 straight games without allowing a run (13.2 innings).
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Effective again as closer
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Martinez earned the save against Kansas City on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.
With the Padres ahead by a run entering the bottom of the ninth inning, manager Bob Melvin turned to Martinez to shut the door in lieu of Josh Hader, who is still being held out of closing situations. Martinez capitalized on the opportunity, working around a two-out infield single to notch his sixth save. Melvin hasn't laid out a specific hierarchy in the current closing committee, but Martinez has notched each of the team's past two saves and hasn't been used in a non-closing situation in over a week. With that in mind, he could be the favorite for saves moving forward, though others will likely get opportunities and Hader is still likely to reclaim the role if he's able to straighten things out.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Converts save Sunday
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Martinez pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Nationals.
With Josh Hader temporarily removed from the closer role, the Padres' ninth-inning situation is a committee. Luis Garcia notched the first save Saturday, but he was likely unavailable Sunday after pitching two days in a row. Martinez stepped in and earned his fifth save of the year, though three of those were of the three-inning variety in late June and early July. The 32-year-old has logged 12.2 scoreless innings with a 12:3 K:BB in August. With the Padres firmly in the playoff race, there should be plenty of save chances to go around, so it remains to be seen how many Martinez might get. He's pitched to a 3.10 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 79:34 K:BB across 90 innings in a versatile role this year.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Returns from paternity leave
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Martinez was reinstated from the paternity list Monday.
Martinez spent the weekend with his wife and newborn, but he has rejoined the Padres and will be available out of San Diego's bullpen moving forward. He figures to fill a key role in front of new closer Josh Hader.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Placed on paternity leave
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Martinez was placed on the paternity list Friday.
He may miss the weekend series against the Twins while he attends to the birth of his child. Michel Baez was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to take Martinez's spot in the bullpen.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Notches second hold
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Martinez earned a hold against the Mets on Friday with a perfect eighth inning of work.
Yu Darvish gave the Padres a standout seven-inning start during which he allowed only one run, and Martinez continued that excellence by retiring all three batters he faced on 12 pitches in the eighth frame. The outing was the fourth straight in which Martinez has worked one inning or fewer after he went at least two frames in each of his first 16 appearances -- most of which came as a starter -- this season. With two holds in his past three relief outings, it appears that the right-hander is moving into more of a high-leverage role in the San Diego bullpen.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Returns to action Friday
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Martinez (foot) picked up a hold against Arizona on Friday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of work.
Martinez was hit on the right foot by a line drive Tuesday, but there was never any indication that he suffered a serious injury. The right-handed hurler didn't pitch Wednesday or Thursday, but he served as the bridge between Yu Darvish and Taylor Rogers and picked up a hold in the 5-3 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday. The hold was Martinez's first of the season, and he has also notched three wins and three saves while posting a 3.63 ERA over 74.1 innings. He's made 10 starts and eight relief appearances.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Struck by comebacker
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Martinez was removed from Tuesday's loss to the Rockies after being struck in the right foot by a line drive, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Martinez allowed an unearned run on one hit with a strikeout and zero walks over one inning before being struck with the comebacker during the seventh inning. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day since the specifics of the injury remain unclear.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Converts three-inning save
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Martinez allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings to earn the save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Giants.
Martinez nearly got through the long-relief outing unscathed, but he allowed a two-out, two-run home run to Brandon Belt in the ninth inning. All three of Martinez's saves this year have seen him cover three frames, and they've all come in his last four appearances. He's unlikely to challenge Taylor Rogers' grasp on the closer role for more traditional save opportunities. Martinez has a 3.73 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 65:31 K:BB through 72.1 innings across 16 outings (10 starts), and he'll likely remain in a multi-inning role going forward.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Picks up win Sunday
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Martinez (3-3) earned the win over the Dodgers on Sunday, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed one hit and struck out two batters.
MacKenzie Gore held Los Angeles to one run over 5.2 frames, but he trailed 1-0 upon his exit in the sixth inning. Martinez retired the final batter in that frame and worked through the eighth, keeping the Dodgers off the scoreboard while allowing only two baserunners (on a single and a hit-by-pitch). The Padres finally broke through with four runs in the top of the ninth, handing Martinez his third victory of the campaign. Including Sunday's performance, the right-hander has allowed only one run over his past nine innings, and he has notched two saves and a win in three outings over that span.
