Martinez (back) is not in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays and is unlikely to play in the nightcap, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox are hoping he won't need a stint on the injured list. Martinez's back has been an issue for him over the past month, and it may continue to cause him to miss time over the rest of the season. The hope is that it will be a manageable situation that does not lead to long absences.

Martinez (back) is not starting Friday against the Rays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez left Thursday's game with back spasms and will sit for at least one more game. He's already battled back issues on two previous occasions during the regular season and another time during spring training, though he hasn't yet needed a trip to the injured list. Eduardo Nunez will be the designated hitter Friday.

Martinez was removed from Thursday's game against the Royals due to back spasms, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored prior to exiting the game in the fifth inning. Sam Travis pinch hit for Martinez, who should be considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the Rays.

Martinez went 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and two runs in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

The three-bagger was his first of the year. Martinez is now slashing .275/.326/.600 with three homers, four RBI and seven runs through 10 games since missing some time in late May with a sore back. While solid, that stretch actually qualifies as a bit of a downturn for the 31-year-old relative to his .301/.378/.536 line for the season.

Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run in Sunday's win at Yankee Stadium.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez wasted no time getting the Red Sox on the board by slugging a two-out solo home run off CC Sabathia in the first inning. Through 54 games, the 31-year-old has put together yet another successful campaign, slashing .294/.373/.525 with 12 home runs, 33 runs scored and 32 RBI as Boston's primary cleanup hitter.

Martinez went 2-for-5 with two home runs in a 12-5 win over the Indians on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez was hitless through three at-bats until he hit a solo shot in the sixth inning and took a slider deep to left field in the eighth inning. The first home run was crushed, registering an exit velocity of 106 mph. The right-hander had one hit in his last five games coming into this one, so it was a welcome sight to see the power display. Martinez is hitting .268/.369/.521 with seven home runs in May.

Martinez (back) will serve as the Red Sox's designated hitter and bat cleanup Sunday against the Astros, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez returned from a four-game absence to start in Friday's series opener, but his ongoing back issue resulted in him checking out of the lineup during Saturday's 4-3 loss. The Red Sox still made the slugger available off the bench for that contest, and he came in to deliver a two-out walk as a pinch hitter. After incurring no setbacks following the appearance, Martinez received the green light to fill his usual DH duties in the series finale.

Martinez (back) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter and drew a two-out walk in a 4-3 loss to the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

He eventually got to second base but was caught in a rundown after a wild pitch didn't stray as far as he initially thought it would. He didn't look very spry during the sequence. Manager Alex Cora downplayed the back spasms that have caused Martinez to sit out of the starting lineup in five of the last six games, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports. "Just a day off," Cora said.

Martinez is back on the bench Saturday against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

No reason has been given for Martinez's absence, but he missed four games in a row with an illness and a sore back earlier in the week, so there's a good chance that Saturday's absence is related. He went hitless in his return to action Friday. Christian Vazquez will be the designated hitter for Saturday's contest.

Martinez (back/illness) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez missed four games in a row with an illness and a sore back. He'll bat fourth as the cleanup hitter Friday.