Cardinals to use ailing RHP Martinez out of pen

The St. Louis Cardinals intend to use Opening Day starter Carlos Martinez out of the bullpen if he returns from a stint on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain.

Martinez threw a 30-pitch side session Monday. The potential move to the bullpen would be to get more use out of the right-hander down the stretch, as a return to starter length would take a greater amount of time.

"If you're going to go down that starting path and you're starting at ground zero, the likelihood of him being back would be sometime in mid-September," Cardinals president John Mozeliak told reporters. "And we've done that twice this year and ended up in the same place after a few starts.

"He's actually interested in the bullpen role right now. It's not to say he's not going to be a starter next year. I think in the short term to get him back quicker, we see more value in getting used out of him in the bullpen going forward."

Martinez, who turns 27 next month, was placed on the DL on July 31, a day after he was activated following a DL stint for a right oblique strain. Martinez also missed nearly a month earlier this season with a right lat strain.

Martinez will throw another side session in the coming days and will head out on rehab assignment soon after.

"I feel great right now," he told reporters. "I'm comfortable with all my pitches."

With Martinez coming out of the bullpen, interim manager Mike Shildt said he won't be afraid to use the two-time All-Star in high-leverage situations.

"We've got another weapon that we look like we can use when it's necessary," Shildt said.

Martinez is 6-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 starts this season.

--Field Level Media

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