RADIO
After being shut down last September with a strained shoulder, Carlos Martinez is reporting that he is 90% healthy and will be ready for Spring Training. He's looking to build upon a wildly successful full season in the Cardinals' rotation, which saw him go 14-7 with a 3.01 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 184 strikeouts.
This news is music to the ears of fantasy owners and Cardinals fans alike. In a season where ace Adam Wainwright was mostly on the DL, Martinez blew away expectations. Fangraphs' Jeff Sullivan credits the circle-change that Martinez started utilizing last year, as it finally gave him an off-speed pitch he felt comfortable throwing at any time. But unlike last year, he will be counted on to perform right away in 2016 rather than pleasantly surprising the Cardinals. If Martinez can continue to keep the ball in the park as he did after the All-Star Break while bringing his LOB% closer to his first-half mark of 85.8%, he could improve further in 2016. Even if he stays the same as 2015, fantasy owners should still find much to like with our 24th-ranked starting pitcher.
Source: Belleville News-Democrat
