Martinez has good stuff, but not good luck

Reds infielder Jose Garcia jumps to fake a steal as Cardinal pitcher Carlos Martinez throws in the 3rd inning on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in a game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

The durability seems to be here. The stuff, too. The luck, as Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez pointed out, wasn’t there on Sunday. And the efficiency will have to be better.

But Martinez is gaining ground on being the pitcher he once was and hopes to be again. The Cardinals will need that in upcoming starts against Pittsburgh and Kansas City, which may be Martinez’s final two starts of the season.