The Cardinals plan to be cautious with rookie pitcher Carlos Martinez as he acclimates to a relief role in the majors. The team is hesitant to initially use him on consecutive days, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"It’s mostly just protection," pitching coach Derek Lilliquist said. "Give him the rest he needs between outings. See how he goes about it with his throwing early before (batting practice) and go from there. He’s looked good -- using two different heaters, attacking the zone. You don’t want him doing anything different than what he’s been doing. That’s the beauty of it."