Manager Brad Ausmus confirmed that Martinez is not sitting Friday due to injury, the Oakland Press reports. "[Martinez] was really last man standing, that hasn't had a day off," Ausmus said. "And you can tell, watching him in batting practice, that mentally he could use a day, when he doesn't have to grind over every single pitch or every single at-bat."
Mike Aviles is starting in right field with Martinez on the bench for the first time this season. Martinez will miss out on an enticing matchup against a lefty on Friday, but hopefully the day off will allow him to recharge his batteries. The 28-year-old Martinez is just 3-for-26 with one extra-base hit over the past week.