The Cardinals have placed right-hander Carlos Martinez on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain and recalled righty Johan Oviedo, per a team announcement.
With oblique injuries often leading to weeks-long absences, this figures to end the season for Martinez, who has logged all five of his 2020 appearances out of the Cardinals’ rotation after working from their bullpen a year ago.
While Martinez was a high-end starter earlier in his career, opposing offenses have smashed the 29-year-old for a 9.90 ERA/6.88 FIP in 20 innings this season. Martinez has easily posted career-worst strikeout and walk rates along the way, having logged 7.65 K/9 and 4.65 BB/9, respectively. And Martinez has averaged under 93 mph on his fastball – far below the 95-96 mean he has typically recorded.
The Cardinals, who are 27-26, do have their next five starters lined up, with Kwang Hyun Kim, Jack Flaherty, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Adam Wainwright and Austin Gomber scheduled to take the mound in their upcoming matchups. Regardless of how their season ends, though, the Cardinals will owe Martinez $11.5MM in 2021. That would have looked like a bargain price not long ago, but that’s not the case with the way he has performed this year.
Why are the Cardinal batters are standing so far from the plate. Especially Goldie, they can’t reach a pitch on the outside corner and that where pitchers are throwing to me. Who is our hitting coach?
Are throwing to them I meant to say.
i wonder how good goldschmidt could be if he moved his left foot forward when swinging
It may be a blessing in disguise with Martinez on the DL or IL for the remainder of the season. What a waist! So much baseball talent in that man’s body. However —- his brain would sound like a B B rattling around in an aircraft carrier. When situations get difficult on the mound…. he loses all focus and reason.
Agree 100%. And as for our hitters, maybe we need a new hitting coach? Look how Ozuna is doing in Atlanta.
Sure glad we didn’t resign him!
It actually seems like the athletic ability is betrayed by his body breaking down.
Martinez’s athletic ability is unreal. But….His history convinces me that most of his injuries occur after mentally breaking down while pitching when times are the toughest. Self inflicted tough tough outings.
Never thought this guy would spend soooo much time on the DL. Oh, I forgot, he signed a big contract extension before. My bad.
The drumbeat of anecdotal evidence continues.
Love seeing when the Cardinals get bad news.
Imagine what the Cardinals would look like with Voit, Pham, Arozarena, Marco Gonzales, Magneuris Sierra, Zac Gallen, and Sandy Alcantara.
It is unbelievable that we traded all those players away.
isn’t the oblique a cranial muscle?
Good one! And that’s the short version of Martinez’s problem.
thanks, i get a few good ones. most require some thought, since they go over most peoples cranium.
i actually think martinez would be better if molina wasn’t in his head.