Martinez (3-2) earned the win Tuesday against Miami, allowing a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning.
Martinez has been solid this month, pitching to a 1.69 ERA across 16 innings in May. The 32-year-old right-hander isn't overtaking Josh Hader for the closing job in San Diego, but he's been the team's top setup option and should see an expanded role with Luis Garcia (oblique) sidelined. Martinez sports a 2.76 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 37:17 K:BB this season.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Snags first save
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Martinez picked up the save in Saturday's 16-11 victory over San Francisco, as he struck out five and didn't allow a baserunner across two shutout innings.
The right-hander began the season as a starter but has moved to the bullpen, with Joe Musgrove back in the rotation. Martinez was the most dominant pitcher for either team in a slugfest, as he struck out five of the six batters he faced. The save is likely to be an anomaly, as the Padres scored four insurance runs during the bottom of the eighth inning to eliminate the need for closer Josh Hader. Martinez has five shutout innings as a reliever this season and a 3.34 ERA overall.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Earns win in long relief
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Martinez (2-1) earned the win over Chicago on Wednesday, allowing three hits and striking out two batters over three scoreless frames.
Martinez came on in relief of Michael Wacha in the sixth inning and provided a bridge to closer Josh Hader, keeping Chicago off the board over three frames. Martinez tossed 34 of 50 pitches for a strike in his first appearance out of the bullpen this season. The right-hander began the campaign as a starter but was moved to a relief role when Joe Musgrove came off the IL on April 22.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Bound for bullpen
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Padres manager Bob Melvin confirmed prior to Saturday's 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks that Martinez will shift to the bullpen following Joe Musgrove's (toe/shoulder) return from the 15-day injured list, Bill Center of MLB.com reports. "We'll have Nick ready in the bullpen pretty quick, too. The very earliest is [Sunday]," Melvin said.
Even though Martinez lowered his ERA and WHIP to 4.01 and 1.22, respectively, after tossing seven scoreless frames and allowing just five baserunners in a win over Atlanta on Wednesday, the return of Musgrove means that the Friars won't have room in the rotation for Martinez or Ryan Weathers, who had also excelled through his first three starts of the campaign. While it's possible the Padres expand their rotation back to six men at some point and look to Martinez to fill the opening, the team will get by with a five-man setup for now with two off days on tap during the upcoming week. Martinez brought some value in a relief role in 2022 -- he accrued a 2.67 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 15.6 K-BB% while notching eight saves in 54 innings -- but most of those save chances came when the Padres' bullpen situation was more fluid and/or while Josh Hader battled command issues. Hader has righted the ship thus far in 2023 and has re-emerged as one of the game's elite closers, so Martinez doesn't look like he'll offer much more than ratio stabilization in his impending return to the bullpen.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Tosses seven scoreless frames
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Martinez (1-1) earned the win in a 1-0 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday, yielding three hits and two walks while striking out six batters over seven scoreless innings.
Martinez didn't allow any extra-base hits in the contest, and he appeared to get stronger as the game wore on, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters he faced. The Padres produced only one run in support of him, though that proved enough for the right-hander to pick up his first win of the campaign. Martinez struggled out of the gate by giving up eight earned runs over his first 11.2 innings of the season, but he's looked better since by notching consecutive quality starts during which he's allowed just three runs across 13 frames.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Notches first quality start
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Martinez did not factor in the decision against Milwaukee on Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two batters over six innings.
Martinez was far from overpowering in the outing, as he allowed as many homers as he notched strikeouts. However, he kept San Diego in the game and finished with his first quality start of the campaign. The right-hander continued to struggle with his control, issuing three more walks to bring his season K:BB to 11:10 over 17.2 innings. Seth Lugo and Ryan Weathers have both pitched well at the back end of the Padres' rotation, so it will be interesting to see which of Lugo, Weathers and Martinez moves to the bullpen when Joe Musgrove (toe/shoulder) is able to return to action.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Walks five in no-decision
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Martinez gave up four runs on four hits and five walks across 4.2 innings during Friday's 5-4 win over Atlanta. He did not factor in the decision.
The 32-year-old was staked an early 3-0 lead but was unable to maintain the advantage. Martinez threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 23 batters he faced, but he struggled to put hitters away and tied a career high with five free passes. Through two starts, the right-hander has a 6.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB across 11.2 innings.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Coughs up four runs
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Martinez (0-1) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings against Colorado on Friday. He struck out five and took the loss.
Martinez coughed up a pair of runs on three hits and a walk in the first inning alone. He settled in for three scoreless frames before serving up a two-run shot to Charlie Blackmon in the fifth. It was the first time Martinez tossed seven innings since May 5 of last season. He threw a steady mix of five pitches, including a changeup that got 11 of his 15 total whiffs. Martinez is lined up to start in Atlanta next week.
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Padres' Nick Martinez: Fans eight in spring start
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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.
