Diamondbacks Welcome Back Reliever Justin Martinez from Injury
PHOENIX, AZ — The Arizona Diamondbacks are optimistic as manager Torey Lovullo announced that reliever Justin Martinez will rejoin the bullpen following his stint on the injured list. Martinez, who has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation since May 1, is set to play a crucial role in the back end of the bullpen, although his specific usage remains uncertain.
Lovullo indicated that it might take “a half an outing” for Martinez to regain his rhythm. “If we see what we like in the middle of an outing, we’ll know he’s back in his groove,” Lovullo explained, acknowledging the impact of Martinez’s performance on the team’s morale and overall dynamics.
Before his injury, Martinez had a strong start to the season, logging nine shutout innings and striking out 11 batters. However, his last appearance came during a Triple-A game on Tuesday, and the Diamondbacks did not utilize him during Friday night’s narrow 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Martinez’s return not only revitalizes the bullpen but also alleviates pressure on his teammates. “It’s gotta be uplifting for that group,” Lovullo remarked, as the absence of Martinez had forced players to adjust their roles. The team originally intended to employ a co-closer strategy with Martinez and left-hander A.J. Puk. However, Puk’s injury has altered those plans, pushing Shelby Miller into the closing role.
With the Diamondbacks set to continue their three-game series against the Cardinals on Saturday at 11:15 a.m., fans can catch the action on 98.7 FM and the Arizona Sports app. The excitement surrounding Martinez’s return has already sparked enthusiasm among his teammates, hinting at a boost in performance for the remainder of the season.
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