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Martinez was charged with the loss in Game 1 of the World Series at Milwaukee on Friday, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks over five innings.
The Brewers pounced on the 36-year-old during the opening frame, scoring twice on two singles and a triple to put Tampa Bay in an early hole. Martinez bounced back from there, however, and followed up with four scoreless innings to keep the Rays close. The right-hander showed more swing-and-miss than usual after posting a 5.4 K/9 during the regular season, as he found some extra juice on his fastball and induced 10 whiffs on 73 pitches (52 strikes). Martinez now lines up to take the ball at home in a possible Game 5 for Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Nick Martinez: Chosen as Game 1 starter
Rotowire
Martinez will start Game 1 of the World Series in Milwaukee on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Giving Martinez the ball in Game 1 allows ace Drew Rasmussen an extra day of rest, and it pushes Freddy Peralta back to Game 3 at Tropicana Field, where he's posted a 2.03 ERA in five starts in 2026 between the regular and postseason. Both of Martinez's outings this postseason have been on the road, and he's allowed a total of three runs with a 6:3 K:BB over nine innings in those starts. The Brewers will counter with Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1.
Martinez earned the win in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks across 5.1 innings.
The right-hander surrendered a run on two hits and a wild pitch during the opening frame but otherwise was able to keep Cleveland off the board to help even the series at 2-2. It was an improved effort from Martinez compared to his first playoff start during the ALDS, when he gave up two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. He doesn't line up for another start versus the Guardians but could be available out of the bullpen for the final games of the series.
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Rays' Nick Martinez: Game 4 postponed
Rotowire
Martinez and the Rays won't face the Guardians on Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS, as the game was postponed due to rain.
Game 4 will now be played Saturday, and Game 5 will be pushed back to Sunday. Martinez will presumably remain in place as Tampa Bay's Game 4 starter and will be looking to bounce back after giving up two earned runs in just 3.2 innings during his last outing against the Yankees in the ALDS.
The Rays list Martinez as their probable pitcher for Friday's ALCS Game 4 in Cleveland.
Martinez will be pitching on eight days' rest after yielding two runs over 3.2 innings in the Rays' ALDS Game 3 win over the Yankees. The right-hander logged a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB over 180 regular-season innings for the Rays. The Guardians will counter with opener Shawn Armstrong as an opener, with Tanner Bibee and/or Joey Cantillo likely to handle bulk relief.
Martinez didn't factor into the decision in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk across 3.2 innings.
The right-hander started off with two scoreless frames before New York got to him for single tallies in the third and fourth innings to end his evening. Martinez worked exclusively as a starter in MLB for the first time in his career this year, and he responded by delivering a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB over 180 regular-season innings. The Rays will presumably line him up to start Game 3 of the ALCS.
Rays' Nick Martinez: Getting ball for Game 3 of ALDS
Rotowire
Martinez will start Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Martinez will make his 2026 postseason debut in what figures to be a hostile environment in New York. The crafty right-hander posted arguably the best regular season of his big-league career with the Rays, accruing a 3.10 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 109:26 K:BB across 180.0 innings, and he'll look to carry that momentum into the playoffs.
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