The Pittsburgh Pirates will take the field on Wednesday night for the National League Wild Card game against the San Francisco Giants. When they do, they will have veteran catcher Russell Martin in the lineup.
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At least that’s the plan. Martin has been dealing with a tweaked left hamstring and missed the final two games of the regular season, but he plans to start the one-game elimination game on Wednesday night. According to Stephen Pianovich of MLB.com:
"Catcher Russell Martin, who was held out of the final pair of regular-season games with a tweaked left hamstring, said he fully expects to start against the Giants on Wednesday in the National League Wild Card Game.“It’s pretty important baseball, not that the other games weren’t,” Martin said Tuesday. “But this is for all the marbles. I can definitely go.”"
Martin was outstanding during the 2014 regular season, batting .290/.402/.430 in 111 games. Furthermore, he was one of the team leaders for the Pirates as they prepare for their second consecutive year in the playoffs.
When the season ends, Martin will be sought after in free agency. But that’s for later. For now, he will focus on what he and the Pirates hope will be a victory over the Giants in the Wild Card game on Wednesday.
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