One of the biggest questions the St. Louis Cardinals faced entering the 2015 season was what to do with their immensely talented albeit enigmatic young fireballer, Carlos Martinez. Use him in a setup role for closer Trevor Rosenthal? Stretch him out in long relief? Or slide him into the back end of a deep rotation? The Cardinals chose door number three, and have hit the jackpot.
Martinez, who at times struggles to control his emotions on the mound, is pitching with a purpose. The closest friend on the team to the late Oscar Taveras, Martinez is harnessing his stuff better than even the Cards could have imagined, with a major assist going to the game’s best all-around catcher, Yadier Molina.