J.D. Martin to Start Saturday in San Diego

According to baseball sources, J.D. Martin will be called up and will start for the Washington Nationals on Saturday against the San Diego Padres.

Martin is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Syracuse.  He has struck out 21 and walked six in 36.1 innings pitched.

In 2009, Martin, 27, went 5-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 15 starts for the Nationals.

Martin is on the Nats' 40-man roster, so he will only need to be added to the active 25-man squad.  It's anticipated that a position player will be sent out to make room for Martin, possibly outfielder Justin Maxwell, just recalled from Triple-A.

The start is necessary because Scott Olsen was placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder soreness.