Carlos Martinez Named 5th Starter

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Today was a newsworthy day for the St. Louis Cardinals where the pitching rotation got a more clear picture. It started early in the day when it was announced that Jaime Garcia was going to be placed on the 15 Day DL. Shortly after it was announced that Carlos Martinez will be the new 5th starter over Marco Gonzales. This spring Martinez has started 4 games and has a 1-0 record with a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings pitched. Marco Gonzales will start the year in Memphis and be the Cardinals go to option if Martinez may not work out.

I really like this decision, Marco Gonzales is a great option, don’t get me wrong, but Carlos Martinez is doing this for more than just him this season. As we all know, Martinez is wearing the number 18 this season in honor of Oscar Taveras. Had it not been for Jaime’s injury, both of these guys would likely start in Memphis but things come up in baseball that causes on the spot decisions.

I’m confident that Carlos Martinez will make the most out of this opportunity. While Marco Gonzales has had a more impressive spring with a 3-0 record and a 1.04 ERA in 17.1 innings, I think some time as the ace in Memphis will be good for him and should help his confidence. I’m sure that Mike Matheny has a good reason for the decision and I’m excited to see how Carlos does.