ST. LOUIS -- When Carlos Martinez trotted out to the mound to protect a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning on Tuesday, it marked the fourth day in a row that he was called on to pitch.

It didn’t matter to him. Martinez felt ready, and besides a single he allowed to Mike Yastrzemski, the righty got out of the inning to secure the Cardinals’ win over the Giants and earned his 18th save of the season.

Martinez threw seven strikes on 10 pitches, highlighting the efficiency that was part of the reason he was able to pitch four days in a row. He tossed the final inning of Saturday's 10-6 win over the Reds, an efficient three-strikeout ninth on Sunday afternoon, a four-out save Monday and the one-hit ninth on Tuesday. In four games, he’s only thrown 46 pitches to get 13 outs.

“This guy knows how to use his pitches in different situations, where to find his outs based on how he feels and what he has,” Cards manager Mike Shildt said. “Clearly, we don’t want to push him too hard, but when he’s efficient ... there’s not a lot of stress, ball’s coming out clean, and he’s locating.”

Martinez feels ready to go Wednesday, too, although he admitted that he needs to listen to his arm first. But Martinez loves the competitiveness of closing, a role he took over in early July. Since then, he has 16 saves in 17 tries.

“I like to be the closer because I always need to be focused and compete,” Martinez said. “Every time they put me on the mound, they need me, and know I can do a good job.”

With the new role comes changes to how Martinez approaches his outings. He’s throwing more four-seam fastballs this year (30.2 percent) than in 2018 (18.6 percent), according to Statcast. But he still relies on his entire pitch arsenal -- which also includes a changeup, sinker, cutter and slider -- to get batters out.

“Carlos is also a pitch-maker,” Shildt said. “He doesn’t always have to throw upper 90s to get outs. He can sink it. He can cut it. He can use his changeup. He knows when and where and how to do that.”

Martinez said that his arm strength allows him to pitch on consecutive days, too. He recovers well. That makes him excited about '20 and the possibility of getting back to starting.

“I feel good. I feel ready,” Martinez said. “I think next year, I’m going to have better stuff, a good arm and be stronger.”

Wieters taking swings from both sides

Catcher Matt Wieters and his left calf strain are progressing well, Shildt said Wednesday. The switch-hitting Wieters is taking batting practice from both sides.

Once Wieters can do calf raises without aggravation, he’ll be able to resume more baseball activities. He sustained the injury while running the bases on Saturday, but Shildt said there’s no timeline for when to expect Wieters back in game action.

Minor League report

Triple-A Memphis outfielder Adolis García and pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon took home the Cardinals’ Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month Awards for August.

Garcia, who was not part of the Cardinals’ September callups, had a team-leading 32 homers over the Triple-A season, which ended Monday with the Redbirds finishing second in the Pacific Coast League American Northern Division. Eight of Garcia’s home runs were in August, with the 26-year-old batting .338/.407/.753 in 25 games. His 32 home runs this season tied Rick Ankiel ('07) for fourth most in Memphis single-season history.

Before being recalled by the big league club on Sunday, Ponce de Leon made five starts in August, going 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA, striking out 39 in 29 innings. Ponce de Leon split time between the Cards and Redbirds this season, but in 16 starts for Memphis, the righty posted a 2.88 ERA.