Nick Martinez is heading into the biggest start of his Rays season with no illusions about the moment.
With Tampa Bay up 2-0 in the American League Division Series, the veteran right-hander will take the ball Wednesday night in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, and he said Tuesday he understands exactly what comes with it.
“I’ve been paying attention the last two games. So I’m fully aware what’s at stake,” Martinez said Tuesday at the stadium.
“It should be exciting. I imagine it’s going to be an electric crowd with their season on the line.
It’s going to be an absolute dog fight, just like my last 31 starts.”
Martinez earned this assignment on the strength of his season, going 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA. At 36, and with a major league debut that dates to 2014, he’s still in his first year spending a full season as a starter in the majors after playing in Japan from 2018-21. He made it clear that role has fit him well.
“I love starting. I’ve always believed that I can be a starter.
I’ve always enjoyed being one of the five or six horses on the team that the team relies on for a full season,” he said. “But I also have the mentality that I just want to win ballgames, in whatever capacity.
I want to play in the postseason. This is the most fun part of the season, obviously, and however we can do it, however the team needs me to contribute, I’m open to that.”
This will be Martinez’s first postseason start, even though he has already made eight previous playoff appearances with the 2022 Padres and 2025 Reds. He said the job doesn’t change the approach.
“Every out is important. So it’s not really about getting 100 pitches in or saving the bullpen and trying to have a quality start.
It’s trying to get every out. Every out matters.
Take it pitch by pitch, and honestly it really doesn’t change from bullpen or start,” he said.
“So just try to maintain that mentality, really, and however many pitches I can get them, the more, the better, obviously. But, again, it’s just about getting outs and keeping us in the ballgame.”
The Rays had some flexibility in their pitching plan because of an extra off day between Games 1 and 2. Drew Rasmussen handled Game 1 and gave Tampa Bay a near fully rested bullpen, then Freddy Peralta got the ball in Game 2 on Monday, with No. 5 starter Ian Seymour used in relief.
Manager Kevin Cash said Martinez was the clear choice for Game 3 because of what he’s done all season, not because of his stronger numbers away from home, where he has been 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA compared to 8-3 with a 3.90 ERA at Tropicana Field.
“It’s definitely the season overall and how good we feel when he’s on the mound for us, whether it’s home or road,” Cash said. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t really realize any of the road information until it started to be talked about by you (media) guys.
“I look at Nick, it doesn’t matter where he takes the ball, he is as ready to compete and as good as any pitcher I’ve been around. You guys know as well how infectious he’s been and the type of teammate he is.
I know our guys are pumped to be playing behind him.”
Martinez, who grew up in Miami, attended Fordham University near Yankee Stadium and said he and his teammates used to go to Yankees games, sit in the bleachers and imagine what it would be like to make it to the majors.
The Yankees will counter with Max Fried, whom Aaron Boone said was a close call over Carlos Rodon. Fried said his girlfriend is close to giving birth, but he plans to pitch Wednesday night regardless of when that happens. He is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season, though he is 5-1 with a 1.81 ERA in seven games overall.
Both clubs are weighing lineup changes for Game 3. For New York, that could mean a more athletic infield defense, with former Ray Jose Caballero a possible option.
Cash said the Rays would discuss whether to add more right-handed bats against a left-handed starter. That group could include catcher Nick Fortes over Liam Hicks, second baseman Ben Williamson over Richie Palacios and outfielder Ryan Vilade over Victor Mesa Jr. Right-handed-hitting center fielder Jonny DeLuca started the first two games against Yankees right-handers Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler ahead of Cedric Mullins.
Palacios, a New York native, said he enjoys facing everyone, but “it’s exciting to be able to do it against New York.”
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