PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Justin Martinez will begin a throwing program later this week after his MRI over the weekend came back clean, manager Torey Lovullo said among a series of injury updates on Monday.
Martinez went on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.
After his imaging came back without any structural damage, Lovullo said, “Probably him trying to explain that he has a dead arm and not really knowing it. … I don’t want people that don’t know what it means to think that his arm is not coming back. It’s just a phase or period of time where you can’t feel the strength. I just think he’s probably never had something like that before. … He’s going to be fine.”
Lovullo was noncommittal about Martinez returning shortly after the 15 days are up, saying they have to be careful to not rush him back.
Martinez’s velocity decreased in each of his last three outings, dropping from 100 mph average sinker to a 95.5 mph sinker right before he hit the IL.
Corbin Burnes on track for next start
Starter Corbin Burnes (right shoulder inflammation) skipped his start on Monday but is scheduled to pitch on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Burnes threw on flat ground Monday and came out of it feeling well. Ryne Nelson received the start on Monday in his place.
The right-hander underwent imaging which showed a bit of inflammation, Lovullo told reporters on Saturday.
Meanwhile, relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (back) is set to pitch on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Reno on Wednesday, the next step toward his Diamondbacks debut. How his outing goes will determine what comes next.
Fellow reliever A.J. Puk (left elbow inflammation) is not yet asymptomatic, although Lovullo expressed optimism that could be coming soon. He will throw again at that point.
Torey Lovullo injury updates
– Corbin Burnes threw on flat ground today, still scheduled for his next start
– Justin Martinez will pick up a ball later this week
– Kendall Graveman to pitch in Reno on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/hOkJS6Xj9P
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) May 5, 2025
Diamondbacks managing injuries
The Diamondbacks have had to battle a series of pitching ailments, mostly in the bullpen, despite efforts to manage arms and avoid the April injuries that pop up around the league.
Lovullo on Monday explained that he follows the medical team’s guidelines 100% of the time at this point in the season when it comes to pitcher availability.
“I’m not the medical expert. I don’t know what goes into the to the human anatomy like they do, but when there is some gray area, I will push it,” Lovullo said. “That’s what’s so puzzling about what’s going on for these early injuries is that we have followed the guidelines and I didn’t even get close to the red line.”
He went deeper on the challenge of wanting to push every button possible but having to be careful with pitchers this early in the season.
“I want to set the standard for what the expectations are for the Arizona Diamondbacks every single day, so that’s hard for me,” Lovullo added. “I’m race ready and I’m like, let’s go. But I got to pull back from that a little bit and be really smart in the first month of the season.”
An example of that struggle came up on Friday in Philadelphia, as Shelby Miller had pitched in back-to-back games and Lovullo negotiated having him available in a save situation only.
Most NL contenders like the Dodgers, Cubs, Mets and Padres have dealt with arm injuries impacting their rotations and bullpens early this season as well.
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