Opposing pitchers have had no answer for scalding Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez so far this season, but an illness prevented him from tormenting the Orioles on Saturday night.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora described his star slugger as feeling “under the weather and having cold symptoms” while adding that the “protocol” has been activated.

Translation: Martinez was ineligible to play Saturday as the Red Sox awaited his latest COVID-19 test, which he took earlier in the day.

So they wouldn’t be short-handed, the Sox placed Martinez on the COVID-19 related injured list prior to Saturday's game. However, the club hopes to activate Martinez as early as Sunday and have him back in the lineup for the finale of the three-game series in Baltimore.

To take Martinez’s spot on the roster, the Red Sox recalled infielder Michael Chavis from the alternate training site and had him available on the bench Saturday night.

At this point, the Red Sox don’t have any reason to think Martinez’s latest test will come back positive.

But as with everything pertaining to the pandemic, they had no choice but to take a wait-and-see approach.

“Obviously, we have to wait,” Cora said. “We're waiting for this [test] result. Then he needs to get tested again. One is the rapid test, the other one is the PCR, and, you know, I’ll just wait for them to just let me know what's going on but I spoke to J.D. and, obviously, we never know with the virus, but he feels pretty confident it’s just a regular cold.”

With Martinez out, Christian Vázquez batted cleanup and served as the DH.

In other lineup news, Hunter Renfroe didn’t start against Orioles lefty Bruce Zimmermann due to soreness from making a sliding catch at Fenway Park on Wednesday. Cora plans on holding the veteran outfielder out of the lineup again on Sunday and playing him in the upcoming four-game series against the Twins that starts Monday.

Closed case for Barnes?
Cora still hasn’t named a closer, and he hasn’t had a save situation in the first seven games of the season. But reading between the lines, it seems as if Matt Barnes beat Adam Ottavino out to be the man for the Red Sox in the ninth inning. Assuming that is the case, Ottavino will be the primary setup man.

“You know what, they both have been throwing the ball well so I’m not going to jinx myself and name somebody,” Cora said. “The way Barnes is throwing the ball has been amazing. We haven’t been able to use Adam that much, right? Only that bases loaded situation a few days ago. I still feel very confident with them and the structure is falling into place. We just have to keep rolling the way we do right now. You guys are watching.”

Cora is impressed with the way Barnes has improved his control. In fact, the veteran righty was one pitch from throwing an immaculate ninth inning on Thursday.

“He’s not as erratic. He’s pounding the strike zone. There’s something about him this year that he bought into the concept that he can put guys away in the strike zone,” Cora said. “You look at his numbers the last few years and there’s proof he can get guys out in the strike zone. He seems like he’s more aggressive. He can still go up, but it’s like, making that fastball up more competitive. The point of throwing a fastball up is to make it competitive. It’s not about changing eye levels. It’s actually for them to commit.”

’Outfielder’ Verdugo
Through the early part of the season, Alex Verdugo has started three games in center, three games in right and one in left. He is unbothered by the roaming aspect of his responsibilities this season after settling mainly in right field last year.

“I’ve gotten to the point where I just look at my name in the lineup and just see where I’m hitting. Make sure I’m hitting in that 2 hole and we’re good,” Verdugo said. “It doesn’t matter. Right, left, center, it’s all the same. Just gotta make sure you go out there and take a look at your surroundings, whatever field you’re at, and you’re locked in. Until I start playing one spot every day, then yeah, I guess just an outfielder. I feel like I’ve played every position at a very good level.”