Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak announced on Saturday that starting pitcher Carlos Martinez has been shut down for the season after leaving Friday night’s game in the first inning. Martinez is done for the rest of the regular season and postseason with a right shoulder strain. The positive side of this bad news is that surgery is not required.
Shoulder tightness first flared up in his Sunday start against the Cubs. Martinez pitched 6 2/3 innings in the win.
With the news that Adam Wainwright can pitch this season, there is no way he can be thrust into the starting rotation. During the playoffs, the Cardinals will only need four starters and now Michael Wacha, John Lackey, Jaime Garcia, and Lance Lynn will be the four.