Rangers' Veteran Reliever Chris Martin Struggling to Find Form

The 39-year-old right-hander has a 7.50 ERA and a blown save in six games this season, leaving the Rangers' bullpen in a precarious position.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in muted tones, capturing the dynamic motion of a baseball pitcher's throwing motion in an abstract, deconstructed manner.A fractured, cubist depiction of a veteran relief pitcher's struggles to regain his form, as the Texas Rangers' bullpen faces instability.Dallas Today

Texas Rangers veteran relief pitcher Chris Martin, who is the oldest player on the team and the fourth-oldest in the league, is struggling mightily to start the 2026 season. With a 7.50 ERA and a blown save in six games, Martin's usually effective cutter and splitter have been hit hard, as opponents are batting .407 against him. This has put a strain on the Rangers' bullpen, which lacks a clear closer, forcing the team to get creative with late-game scenarios.

Why it matters

As one of the Rangers' most experienced and reliable high-leverage relief options, Martin's struggles are having a significant impact on the team's bullpen. His inability to solidify a late-inning role is forcing the coaching staff to shuffle other relievers into unfamiliar situations, creating instability in the bullpen and potentially affecting the team's overall performance.

The details

Through seven appearances this season, Martin has allowed 12 hits and 6 earned runs, with batters hitting .407 against him. His usually effective cutter has yielded a .444 average, while his splitter, considered his most valuable pitch last season, has been hit for a .667 average. In a recent 6-3 loss to the Dodgers, Martin gave up a run on consecutive hits in the eighth inning, further exacerbating the bullpen's issues.

  • Martin, who is 39 years old, will turn 40 in less than two months.
  • Martin started the season as arguably the club's best high-leverage relief option.
  • In a 6-3 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday, Martin allowed a run on consecutive hits in the eighth inning.

The players

Chris Martin

A 39-year-old right-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, who is the oldest player on the team and the fourth-oldest in the league.

Skip Schumaker

The manager of the Texas Rangers, who believes that Martin's ability to locate the ball has improved since the start of the season.

Robert Garcia

The left-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, who has also struggled in high-leverage situations this season.

Jakob Junis

A right-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, who has been used in late-game scenarios due to the bullpen's issues.

Jacob Latz

A left-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, who has also been used in late-game scenarios due to the bullpen's issues.

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What they’re saying

“Your mind starts to wonder, 'what else is going on?' Is my body not allowing me to do something? You're constantly fighting battles with your mind, but when I'm in the game, I'm confident and I'm competing like I normally would.”

— Chris Martin, Texas Rangers Relief Pitcher

“The results are just not good right now.”

— Chris Martin, Texas Rangers Relief Pitcher

“I think he's in a much better spot than he was early on, just because he's locating the ball much better and his off-speed is where he wants it to be.”

— Skip Schumaker, Texas Rangers Manager

“I'm supposed to be the guy that solidifies a role down there and makes things easy on everybody. I'm not doing that. I'm making everybody's job harder, including the coaching staff, the guys and the bullpen, so that's what I've been most frustrated by. I'm not doing my job.”

— Chris Martin, Texas Rangers Relief Pitcher

What’s next

The Rangers will continue to monitor Martin's progress and look for ways to get him back on track, as his performance is crucial to the stability of the team's bullpen. The coaching staff will likely work with him on refining his pitch location and command, with the goal of regaining his effectiveness in high-leverage situations.

The takeaway

Chris Martin's struggles have put the Rangers' bullpen in a precarious position, highlighting the importance of veteran leadership and consistency in the late innings. The team will need to find a way to get Martin back on track if they hope to solidify their relief corps and make a push in the competitive AL West division.