In four outings on his rehab assignment, Martinez has struck out six in 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He’s allowed one hit and walked four. The Cardinals have used his rehab assignment in the minors to mirror a spring-training schedule, similar to what a reliever might see during Grapefruit League play. He hasn’t pushed into a second inning until Sunday in large part because the team “didn’t want to have a setback in his second or third time (out) for rehab sessions,” Shildt said.
Malcom Nunez, the teenage infielder who won a Triple Crown in the Dominican Summer League a year ago, was promoted to Low-A Peoria, his first full-season affiliate in the Cardinals’ organization.