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ST. LOUIS -- New York Mets interim manager Jerry Manuel wants Pedro Martinez to get into a groove, so he's keeping him on regular rest Wednesday while giving younger Mike Pelfrey an extra day.
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Martinez and Pelfrey both pitched in a doubleheader on Friday against the Yankees, and Manuel said he hoped consistent action would help Martinez. He's 2-2 with a 7.12 ERA in six starts and Pelfrey, who'll pitch Thursday in the final game of a four-game series against the Cardinals, is 5-6 with a 4.47 ERA.
"Pedro in my opinion needs to get back into a routine vs. a rest," Manuel said. "The routine for him is more important now than having an extra day."
Manuel said if pitch count or health was an issue, or if Martinez had been having more success, he'd have likely gone in the other direction. He said pitching Dan Warthen discussed the matter with Martinez and that the pitcher didn't mind.
The 36-year-old Martinez allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 9-0 loss to the Yankees in his last start and over his last two starts has surrendered 12 runs and 15 hits in 10 innings.
Manuel said tipping pitches has been one of the reasons for the three-time Cy Young Award winner's woes since returning from a strained left hamstring sustained in his first start of the year.
"I think another issue is him getting on the mound just on a regular basis," Manuel said. "The key with him now is he's healthy.
"You have to make a decision whether rest or time on the mound is the priority."