Cards shut down RHP Martinez with recurring shoulder woes

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez will halt a throwing program and attempt to reboot with strength training due to weakness in his throwing shoulder. The same issue was a problem throughout the 2018 season when Martinez eventually shifted to the bullpen.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Martinez would be idle for two weeks to focus on strength and flexibility training, then attempt to rejoin the throwing program. "He was very honest," Shildt said. "Very open. Came in very honest about his throwing and about how he felt."

Martinez said the problem made him "afraid" to throw at full strength, the paper reported. The Cardinals sent Martinez for an MRI on Monday, but no structural damage was found. Shildt said the concern was weakness around the shoulder that is prohibiting Martinez from recovering from throwing at full strength.

Martinez, 27, could still land in the starting rotation, but St. Louis is also open to using him as its closer. He enters 2019 with a 54-38 record, seven saves and a 3.37 ERA in 205 career games (118 starts) since making his 2013 debut.