Red Sox place All-Star slugger J.D. Martinez on COVID-19 injured list

The Boston Red Sox announced Saturday that All-Star slugger J.D. Martinez has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list after he reported to the club that he was not feeling well. 

"He felt sick last night," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith. "He's been feeling sick the whole day. He's going to go through testing."

Martinez is the latest player to land on the COVID-19 IL, joining outfielder Jarren Duran, who was placed on the list on Friday. 

The 33-year-old is having a solid season for the Red Sox after a down year in 2020. He's hitting 284/.350/.525 with 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 104 games.

Catcher Connor Wong will replace Martinez on the active roster ahead of Boston's doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday. 

The Red Sox have been in a slump since the July 30 trade deadline, losing six of their last seven games and falling 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first in the American League East with a 64-47 record. 

If Boston doesn't turn things around after a surprisingly impressive start to the season, it could miss the playoffs for the third straight year.