PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks flamethrower Justin Martinez commenced his throwing program on Thursday and could jump back on the mound for a bullpen this weekend, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Martinez went on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation on May 1. His velocity had dropped dramatically over his previous two outings in particular.
If Martinez continues to hit his marks and feel healthy, Lovullo expects he could be back soon after his 15 days are up.
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He threw out to 90 feet on Thursday.
“I know you guys want to know on Day 16 is he gonna be available?” Lovullo said. “I think it’s gonna potentially be around that time. It’s not gonna be much longer than that if it’s not on that day. But the build out is all contingent on how he feels today, which was good, and then how he feels for the bullpen.”
It remains a bit mysterious what exactly happened to Martinez, as an MRI showed no damage to his shoulder. Lovullo had thrown around the term “dead arm” but it is possible the fear of something being wrong caused him to change how he threw.
After Martinez received a clean image and time to rest his arm, Lovullo is confident the 23-year-old will return to form.
“ I think making sure the delivery is sound, the release point is the same, I think traditionally you start to protect yourself when you don’t feel right,” Lovullo said.
Diamondbacks reliever Justin Martinez has begun his throwing program, manager Torey Lovullo said. pic.twitter.com/arxR80X2Vv
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) May 8, 2025
“You might change your arm angle a little bit. So we gotta get the metrics on that, get all the data on that and make sure everything’s normal. The confidence is there that he’s not gonna hurt himself or done any damage pre IL stint. So that was a big marker for us. He’s out there now getting himself back into shape and getting his mind right.”
Martinez this season has a 2.70 ERA in 12 games with three saves. Without him and A.J. Puk (left elbow inflammation) available, Shelby Miller has taken the closer reins for the time being.
Puk, meanwhile, is asymptomatic, so his throwing program is around the corner.
Reliever Kendall Graveman, who has yet to make his D-backs debut after signing with the team during spring training due to a back injury, tossed 14 pitches for Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.
Graveman threw one inning, giving up one hit without allowing a run in his first rehab game in Triple-A.
He will likely throw again on Friday for the Aces.
“Stuff came out real good. 94, 95ish mph, maybe even touching 96,” Lovullo said. “Health is there, it’s just now repeating the delivery, making pitches and recovering.”
Diamondbacks talking about 6-man rotation
The Diamondbacks are in the midst of a grueling stretch. Thursday is their 10th of 16 games in a row without an off day.
On Monday, Ryne Nelson started for Corbin Burnes, who had just received a cortisone shot for right shoulder inflammation.
Burnes is expected to make his next start on Saturday, but the idea of running a six-man rotation for a turn to give pitchers an extra day has been talked about.
“We still are figuring that out,” Lovullo said. “We’ve only thought about it … nothing’s been firmed up. Nelly threw the ball real good, and we feel like this the time if we can, maybe it’s good to give somebody or two or three of the starters a little bit of a blow. We haven’t made any decisions yet because we might need Nelly.”
Nelson has worked in long relief this season.
Dodgers finalize rotation vs. Diamondbacks
The Dodgers entered this weekend’s series against the Diamondbacks without a listed Sunday starter. Manager Dave Roberts on Thursday confirmed Tony Gonsolin will make his third start of the year that day.
Los Angeles is running out Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Dustin May from Thursday to Saturday, respectively.
“I think it’s gonna be a tight series,” Roberts said. “We’ve seemed to bring out the best out of them.”
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