DETROIT -- Asked before the game if this was the healthiest and strongest Victor Martinez had ever looked, Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus answered without hesitation:

“Since 2014, no question."

Ausmus admitted there were times last season when Martinez looked like he was rounding into form. But, inevitably, there would always be some setback. He’d jump out of the way of a pitch down and in or run down the line and then look bothered afterward, as a result. In retrospect, the Tigers should have been more cautious about playing him when they did.

“I mean, looking back, we probably should have started the season without him,” Ausmus said prior to the Tigers' 9-4 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Luckily, the version of Martinez the Tigers have seen during the start of their 2016 campaign is in stark contrast from the hobbled veteran of last season. The 37-year-old designated hitter has been smacking the baseball as of late -- a necessity for an offensively loaded team that has seen many of its other stars struggle early. Heading into Wednesday’s contest, Martinez was batting .325 (13 of 40) with four runs scored, five doubles, one home run and six RBI over the past 10 games; he continued his production against Oakland’s Liam Hendriks.

Martinez, who called the team’s offensive performance in Tuesday's night 5-1 loss “horses---,” launched a three-run shot in the sixth inning to give the Tigers a resounding 8-1 lead on Wednesday, providing the Tigers with the sort of offensive cushion that has been lacking during this recent stretch.

Martinez has been looking strong and spry enough that the Tigers are now hoping to get him some starts in the field, with next month’s trip to Washington the target date for such an opportunity. Ausmus said now that Martinez has put the spring training hamstring injury in the rearview mirror and the weather is starting to warm up, he’ll be getting more reps at first base -- as a way to keep his bat in the lineup, while simultaneously spelling slugger Miguel Cabrera.

With his home run on Wednesday, Martinez has now hit safely in 10 of the past 11 games.