Martinez went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 2-1 win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox were flummoxed by Kansas City starter Jonathan Heasley over 6.2 innings before getting to the Royals bullpen in the eighth. Dylan Coleman and Scott Barlow combined to walk four batters, when Martinez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and got a slider that caught too much of the plate. The 34-year-old Martinez, who has 11 home runs, 53 RBI and a career-low .422 slugging percentage, is finishing out what is expected to be his final season in Boston.

Martinez returned to the lineup and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez had missed the previous three games due to back problems. He'll get another off day Thursday before the Red Sox face the Orioles for three games in Baltimore this weekend. The slugger is batting just .200 with two home runs since the All-Star break.

Martinez (back) is starting Wednesday against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back tightness but will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth a day later. Over his last four games, he's gone 6-for-17 with a home run, a double, three runs and two RBI.

Managaer Alex Cora said Martinez (back) is expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale in Tampa Bay, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger was scratched from Tuesday's starting nine due to back tightness, but he's expected to rejoin the lineup after missing only one game. Martinez is in the midst of a modest four-game hit streak, during which he is 6-for-17 with a home run, a double, two walks, two RBI and three runs scored.

Martinez was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

He had missed the last two games, which could have been due to middling performance and expanded rosters, but now it seems like something must be bothering Martinez physically. Christian Arroyo was added to the lineup at designated hitter.

Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Red Sox manager Alex Cora provided no indication that Martinez's absence from the lineup in Sunday's 5-2 win against the Rangers was injury-related, but the fact that the 35-year-old is now on the bench for a second day in a row suggests that a physical issue could be in play. An explanation behind Martinez's back-to-back days off could come later Monday, but Tommy Pham will get another turn as Boston's designated hitter in his stead in any event.

Martinez is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez started the last 14 games and will receive a day off after he posted a .276/.323/.431 slash line with two home runs, five RBI and six runs during that span. Tommy Pham will serve as the designated hitter while Franchy Cordero starts in left field.

Martinez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez, who snapped a 35-game homer-less drought Sunday, now has two blasts in the last four days. The slugger has just 11 home runs for the season, a dip in power he attributed to not firing his hips correctly, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reported following Sunday's drought-busting homer.

Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

It seems unthinkable, but Martinez's homer snapped a 35-game drought without going deep. His last home run was July 10. Even more unthinkable, it took until Aug. 28 for Martinez to reach double-digit dingers -- Sunday's blast was his 10th of the season. He's in the final year of his contract, and the Red Sox are not expected to make an effort to re-sign Martinez.

Martinez is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez will get a day off after he went 3-for-8 with five walks and three runs during the three-game series with the Pirates. Rob Refsnyder will replace him at designated hitter and bat seventh in the series opener.