Why Martinez Is the Choice
The Rays will send Nick Martinez to the mound Wednesday at Yankee Stadium with a chance to sweep the Yankees and advance to the American League Championship Series. New York is expected to counter with left-hander Max Fried as it tries to avoid elimination in Game 3 of the best-of-five AL Division Series.
For Tampa Bay, Martinez’s road performance provides a compelling reason to trust him in the Bronx. The 36-year-old right-hander finished the regular season 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA, but his numbers away from Tropicana Field were even stronger: a 7-3 record, a 2.38 ERA and a .618 opponents’ OPS. He allowed eight home runs on the road, compared with 14 at home.
This will be Martinez’s first postseason start—not his first experience pitching in October. He made eight relief appearances for San Diego during its 2022 postseason run and another for Cincinnati in the 2025 Wild Card Series.
Martinez’s 2026 Profile
Martinez gave Tampa Bay both durability and control, completing 180 innings across 31 starts with a 1.09 WHIP. He finished with 109 strikeouts and 26 walks, providing the Rays with a dependable starter who limited free passes without relying on overwhelming strikeout totals.
His assignment follows starts by Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta in the first two games of the series. Rather than asking Martinez to carry the rotation, Tampa Bay is turning to an experienced pitcher to finish what its opening starters began.
“In the postseason, it’s just about getting outs,” Martinez told the Tampa Bay Times. “It doesn’t matter how or when they come. It’s just about being ready when your name is called and doing what you can to help a team win.”
Matchup Against the Yankees
Fried gives New York an accomplished starter for its elimination game. In his previous postseason outing, he held Boston to one run over six innings in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. The Yankees also have Carlos Rodón as a potential relief option or a Game 4 starter if they extend the series.
The Yankees’ current offensive personnel include Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham and Spencer Jones. Aaron Judge also appears on the current depth chart, although that listing carries an injured-list designation; his Game 3 availability should not be presented as confirmed without an updated lineup. Juan Soto should not be included in this Yankees lineup.
New York used eight left-handed hitters against Peralta in Game 2, demonstrating its willingness to load the lineup against a right-handed starter. Manager Aaron Boone kept former Ray José Caballero available off the bench because of his versatility. That makes lineup construction—and Martinez’s response to it—an important part of the Game 3 matchup.
Rays’ Personnel and Approach
Tampa Bay’s current position-player group looks different from the one described in the original draft. Junior Caminero is the primary third baseman, Taylor Walls is listed at shortstop, Jonathan Aranda at first base and Richie Palacios at second. Yandy Díaz is primarily listed at designated hitter, rather than as an everyday defensive anchor.
The outfield options include Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Jonny DeLuca and Victor Mesa. DeLuca started each of the first two games against right-handed pitching ahead of Mullins, making him a relevant name in the Game 3 discussion. Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes should not appear as members of this current Rays alignment.
Tampa Bay also brings more than a speed-and-contact offense. Caminero finished the regular season with 42 home runs, 101 RBIs and an .885 OPS. Díaz hit .293 with 22 homers, 85 RBIs and an American League-leading 180 hits. Both were named finalists for the league’s Hank Aaron Award.
Behind Martinez, the current bullpen depth chart lists Bryan Baker as the closer, with Garrett Cleavinger, Kevin Kelly, Tyler Wells, Cam Booser and Manuel Rodríguez among the relief options. Those are the current names to use rather than carrying over Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam from earlier Rays bullpens. A specific five-inning limit for Martinez has not been established in the reporting cited here.
Stakes in the Bronx
The equation is straightforward: Tampa Bay wins and advances to the ALCS; New York wins and forces Game 4. The Rays enter Wednesday with a 2-0 series lead and an opportunity to finish the matchup without needing another game.
Martinez’s strong road record gives Tampa Bay a credible foundation for that opportunity. His first postseason start will test whether the same control and consistency that defined his regular season can deliver the final outs the Rays need to move on.
