After rehab, Chris Martin ready to return to Red Sox pen

“The strike throwing machine with quality strikes. I think we were probably going to get this guy.

Martin had a forgettable start this year before joining the IL, posting a 4.22 ERA in 21⅓ innings pitched. Martin has allowed four homers this year, compared to just two all last season (in 55 appearances).

But Martin said mental issues off the field take a toll on the physical.

“I think I let it fester a little too long and I didn’t feel good,” Martin told the Globe on Friday. “Like I understand the difference between baseball fatigue (another type of fatigue). I was getting to a point where it was affecting my performance.

“I was coming on the field every day, but I wasn’t able to prepare and do the things I needed to do. I feel like I’m in a good place right now. I take these days very seriously and work on what I need to work on.

Anxiety aside, Martin has been dealing with a left shoulder issue that has tormented him at times, but he feels like it’s something he can fix.

“I’ve had some issues throughout the year, a few little issues here and there,” Martin said. “It’s probably getting better, but there are still some problems. It’s just something that’s going to be part of management. I don’t think it really affected my performance on the pitch, so I just have to deal with it.

He sees many similarities

Cora said recently that the 2018 Red Sox reminded him of the 2024 Celtics, who are on the verge of winning an NBA title.

During her pre-match session on Sunday, Cora was asked how the two teams reflected each other. The director gave a long answer.

“You had the star players,” Cora said, “but then the actors were really good. And there’s an idea that people think we only had eight guys playing and that’s it. We formed a platoon behind the room. We formed a platoon on first, second and third. Then we had the three outfielders.

Former President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has always been known to cause a sensation. He signed holder David Price to a lucrative contract before the 2016 season, and traded for Chris Sale the next year. Before 2018, he signed Slugger J.D. Martinez.

But Dombrowski also knew how to exploit margins by acquiring Ian Kinsler, Steve Pearce, And Nate Eovaldi during their run in 2018. All three played pivotal roles in the Sox’s march to the title, with Pearce winning World Series MVP.

The Celtics, meanwhile, acquired via trade Jrue Vacationsa star actor for much of his career, and Kristaps Porzingis, a talented but injury-riddled center, before the start of the season. Eovaldi, like Porzingis, had plenty of talent, operating a triple-digit fastball, but was always injured.

It was a gamble for the Sox to trade for Eovaldi, but the move ultimately helped them get over the hump.

“I think if you surround superstars with good, solid actors, good things are going to happen,” Cora said. “I think the Celtics are very consistent in what they do.”

The Red Sox eliminated the Dodgers in five games that year. The Celtics have a chance to close out the Mavericks in five this year.

Abreu update

Wilyer Abreu (ankle) will play in a rehab game Tuesday and Wednesday for Worcester. There’s a good chance he’ll join the Cincinnati club for their series with the Reds which begins Friday… Romy Gonzalez (hamstring) will also join the Red Sox in Toronto. It remains to be determined whether or not he will be reinstated from the IL.

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Julian McWilliams can be contacted at [email protected]. follow him @byJulianMack.