Martinez picked up the save against the Diamondbacks on Monday, giving up no earned runs on one hit over one inning to close out the Cardinals' 9-7 victory. He struck out one and walked none.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez was tasked with protecting a three-run lead after the Diamondbacks started a ninth-inning rally against John Brebbia, and while he allowed one of the runners on base to come around and score, he managed to shut the door and pick up his 24th save of the season. The longtime starter has had some bumps in the road, but he's largely adapted well in his first go-around as the Cardinals' full-time closer, posting a 3.30 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB across 46.1 innings.

Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth inning while walking one batter to record a save during a 9-8 victory against the Cubs on Saturday. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez has now converted 12 straight save chances and has accumulated 23 saves on the campaign. The 28-year-old is 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 45.1 innings this season.

Martinez recorded the final two outs of the ninth inning while walking one batter to record a save during a 2-1 victory against the Cubs on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't a full-inning save, but Martinez bounced back from yielding three runs against the Cubs on Thursday to post his 22nd save of the year. Despite the rough outing, his appearance Thursday didn't count as a blown save, so Martinez has converted 11 straight save chances. He is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 44.1 innings this season.

Martinez was credited with his third hold in an extra-inning win over the Cubs on Thursday but allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk over one-third of an inning while also recording one strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

The normally reliable closer didn't have it Thursday, a rare occurrence during what has been a largely stellar stretch of high-leverage work for Martinez. Asked to slam the door in the bottom of the ninth with the Cardinals holding a 4-1 advantage, Martinez got himself into immediate trouble by issuing a leadoff walk to Nicholas Castellanos and a subsequent single to Kris Bryant. A Kyle Schwarber strikeout later, Ben Zobrist laced an RBI double and Willson Contreras immediately followed with a run-scoring single. The multi-run outing was the first on Martinez's ledger since Aug. 18 and also snapped the 11-appearance scoreless streak he'd forged since that outing.

Martinez four straight groundouts in a four-out save during a 5-1 victory against the Nationals on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander entered with two runners aboard and two outs in the eighth, but he quickly induced a groundout to end the frame. He did the same with three ground balls in the ninth. Martinez hasn't struck out any batters in his last two appearances, but owners have hardly anything to complain about, as he's converted 10 straight saves, and he's on a 10.2 scoreless innings streak. Overall, Martinez is 4-2 with 21 saves, three blown opportunities, 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings this season.

Martinez pitched one-third of an inning to record his 20th save in a 4-2 win over the Nationals on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals called upon Martinez with two outs in the ninth inning, and he quickly forced a line-out to nail down his 20th save of the season. This was the first outing after Martinez was hospitalized with asthma. Martinez has a 4-2 record with a 3.00 ERA and 47 strikeouts through 41 appearances this season.

Martinez (illness) will be available Monday, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez revealed Monday that the illness which sidelined him over the weekend and sent him to the hospital Saturday night was asthma, the first time he's dealt with such a problem. The closer should be called on if a save situation arises Monday against Nationals.

Martinez has been dealing with some respiratory issues and spent Saturday night in the hospital as a result, Jim Hayes of FOX Sports Midwest reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was originally reported that Martinez was dealing with the flu and that's why he was unavailable to pitch Sunday. However, manager Mike Schildt told reporters after Sunday's loss to the Brewers that Martinez has a respiratory issue that required a trip to the hospital. Typically respiratory problems deal with the loss of muscle strength and endurance which would hinder any athlete's performance in a game. The Cardinals could've used Martinez on Sunday as they went into the ninth inning up 4-3 and let in what would turn out to be a game-winning grand slam by Ryan Braun. The team is hoping that Martinez's illness is just day-to-day and that he will be available out of the bullpen shortly.

Martinez earned his second hold of the season in the Cardinals' win over the Rockies on Thursday, striking out the only two batters he faced to close out the eighth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Andrew Miller preceded Martinez and was less than sharp to open the frame, issuing a leadoff walk to Nolan Arenado before plunking Charlie Blackmon and then moving both runners up 90 feet with a wild pitch. That prompted manager Mike Shildt to call on his closer with the tying run in a 6-3 game at the plate, and Martinez promptly mowed down Daniel Murphy and Tony Wolters to snuff out the threat. It was a rare non-save situation for Martinez, who could have used the work anyhow after taking the mound only once since Sept. 3 prior to Thursday.

Martinez, who has converted 17 of 18 save opportunities as the closer since Jordan Hicks (elbow) was sidelined, is expected to have an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot in spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander's pitch arsenal has proven to be effective in late-inning, high-leverage situations, and Rogers reports that Martinez does enjoy filling the closer's role for now. However, working as a starter apparently remains his preference, as Martinez has continued to express a desire to have an opportunity to return to the rotation next season. The scenario shapes up as an interesting one for the Cardinals, given that Hicks isn't slated for a return until midseason in 2020, at the earliest. Therefore, if Martinez were to succeed in his bid to return to starting, alternative options such as Andrew Miller, John Gant and/or Giovanny Gallegos would likely be given run in the ninth inning for multiple months to open the campaign.