GLENDALE, Ariz. – Dodgers catcher Russell Martin has been sidelined with lower back soreness. Martin hasn’t been on the field since playing in Tuesday’s game against Kansas City and expects to be held out several more days after overdoing it in the batting cage.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Dodgers catcher Russell Martin has been sidelined with lower back soreness.

Martin hasn’t been on the field since playing in Tuesday’s game against Kansas City and expects to be held out several more days after overdoing it in the batting cage.

“If it was [during] the season, I probably wouldn’t miss time,” said Martin. “My lower back has been achy from working on stuff in the cage and taking a lot more swings. There were certain drills I was doing that isolated certain muscles and I just overdid it. I got excited, was seeing improvements and thought I was 22 again.”

Martin, who turned 36 last month, was acquired from Toronto to pair with Austin Barnes behind the plate after Yasmani Grandal left as a free agent.

“It’s nothing alarming. I’m not worried about it. But it’s a little frustrating because I felt I was striding in the right direction and getting excited. The hitting coaches really know what they’re doing. But sometimes something reminds you this is a marathon, not a sprint. I started sprinting out of the gates like an eager, young pup. But I’ll be back out there in the next couple of days.”

Rocky night for relievers

After back-to-back extended seasons, the Dodgers are easing relievers back into game action and it didn’t go very well for several hurlers making their season debuts in Friday night split-squad games.

Pedro Baez allowed a pair of solo home runs despite striking out the side in his first game of the year, a 5-4 loss to the Padres at home. Hyun-Jin Ryu started and pitched two scoreless innings.

“It was a very productive night for Hyun-Jin,” said manager Dave Roberts.

Meanwhile, in the other split-squad game against the Indians on the road, Caleb Ferguson had an even rougher debut, charged with four runs in one inning of an 8-4 loss. Dylan Floro followed and allowed a home run in his one inning.

Scott Alexander, however, pitched a scoreless inning in his spring debut. In the game against the Padres, the only Dodger with multiple hits was Minor League shortstop Errol Robinson with a triple and double.

Ross Stripling started the game against the Indians and pitched two scoreless innings. Both Ryu and Stripling threw a third inning in the bullpen.

Up next

Brock Stewart starts Saturday at 12:10 p.m. PT when the Dodgers travel to Scottsdale to play Arizona. Yimi Garcia, Jaime Schultz, Dustin May, Josh Smoker, Joe Broussard and Josh Sborz are also listed to pitch.