The Washington Nationals announced that manager Dave Martinez will return to the dugout Friday night for the first of a three-game series at the Miami Marlins.
Martinez experienced chest pain in the sixth inning in Sunday’s home game against the Atlanta Braves and left to go to the hospital. He did not travel to St. Louis for three games against the Cardinals after having a minor heart procedure Monday.
“His health comes first. That’s how we all feel,” Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart told The Washington Times on Friday after it was announced Martinez would return.
Martinez turns 55 on Thursday. He is in his second year as the manager of the Nationals after working as a bench under Joe Maddon with Tampa Bay and the Chicago Cubs.
The Nationals are 83-68 and enter play Friday one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the top wild-card spot and two games clear of the Cubs. The Nationals begin a five-game series at home with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday and have 11 games left in regular-season play.
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