Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 7-6 victory against the Mariners on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The Mariners jumped out to a 6-1 lead by the end of the fourth, but the Red Sox slowly chipped away. Martinez' blast pulled Boston within three in the sixth. Martinez has hit at least 43 homers in each of the last two years, and at 31, there doesn't seem to be any signs of Martinez slowing down any time soon.

Martinez (back) is in the lineup for Friday's spring game against the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez did not play in Boston's last two official spring training games because of his sore back, but he was able to take some at-bats in a minor-league game Thursday, and will return to Grapefruit League action Friday. Martinez will hit third and is feeling good enough to avoid the DH spot and play right field.

Martinez (back) got a couple at-bats in a minor-league game Thursday and he expects to return to big-league action Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

He said his back is feeling better and the fact that he got at-bats against minor leaguers supports that notion. Look for him to get back in the lineup Friday against the Yankees.

Martinez (back) is not in the lineup for Thursday's spring game against the Tigers, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday with tightness in his back, and the soreness will cost him at least one more game. The Red Sox have not expressed any concern about Martinez's status publicly, so he figures to return to action in short order.

Martinez was scratched from the Red Sox's lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins due to back tightness, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez can be viewed as day to day at this juncture unless the Red Sox indicate otherwise. The slugger is off to a poor start to the spring with a 1-for-16 mark from the plate, but his stellar track record over the past five seasons continues to make him a worthy first-round selection in just about any fantasy format.

Martinez has gone 0-for-7 with a walk and a run scored in three spring games.

EDGE Analysis

Slow starts at spring training are nothing new for hitters and Martinez is no exception. "Everything's moving fast still," Martinez told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald after facing the Nationals' Max Scherzer on Tuesday. "It's one of those things. I always say all the time I'm not a good spring training hitter, I don't know, it's that way for me, it takes me awhile to get right. Once I start slowing the ball down something clicks and I'm like 'Oh crap, OK wait, I've got something here.' " As was the case last season, once Martinez got his timing down, there was no stopping him. He finished fourth in voting for AL MVP after posting a 1.031 OPS (3rd in MLB) and 5.9 WAR (10th).

Martinez will make his spring debut Saturday, according to Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox have taken it easy with Martinez thus far this spring, but he is ready to see his first action of 2019. Martinez will serve as Boston's designated hitter and hit cleanup in Saturday's batting order.

Martinez (ankle) will start in left field and bat cleanup in Game 3 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

There was some concern that Martinez wouldn't be able to take the field Friday night due to an ankle injury, but the 31-year-old didn't have any issues taking pre-game drills in the outfield so he'll be ready to go for Game 3. Since there's no DH in the Dodgers' National League park, Andrew Benintendi will begin Friday's contest on the bench as Martinez patrols left field.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora wouldn't commit to having J.D. Martinez (ankle) start in right field in Friday's Game 3 of the World Series, ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez aggravated a sore right ankle while running the bases in Game 2, but remained in the game. However, Martinez said he planned on playing. Without the DH at an NL park, Martinez will need to play the outfield to stay in the lineup. Cora also said he wouldn't move Mookie Betts to second base in order to keep both Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi in the lineup.

Martinez was 2-for-3 with two runs and a three-run home run in Sunday's 10-2 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

September actually ended up as Martinez's worst statistical month of the season, but he still posted a .297 average and .841 OPS. The 31-year-old was one of the best hitters in baseball all season, totaling 43 home runs and 130 RBI with a .330/.402/.629 slash line.