JUPITER, Fla. -- Back on the hill, Carlos Martinez tried out a new pitch. The Cardinals' ace is tinkering with a cutter this spring, and the few he introduced to Marlins hitters Thursday highlighted his return to game action following a one-start absence.
Martinez said after St. Louis' 5-4 win over Miami that the family matter that forced him to miss his last start won't continue to affect his on-field presence going forward. Martinez left camp for a day last week, which resulted in the Cardinals scratching him late from his scheduled start against the Red Sox.