The Miami Marlins won their first playoff game since 2003, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 5-1 lead in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. While the Marlins have every reason to feel good about winning, they may have to suffer significant losses in the process.
Outfielder Starling Mart, whom Miami acquired in a surprise trade-time deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, left the game in the ninth inning after a foul hit his left arm. Mart’s injury was originally listed as a contusion, but X-rays confirmed he had a fracture, According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Per pass, Mart could try to play anyway.
Mart, who turned 32 in early October, hit .281 / .340 / .430 in the season with six home runs and 10 steal bases. His score with Miami was poor (.245 / .286 / .415), although he came in a smaller sample. It’s worth noting that Wednesday’s hit-by-pitch was Martini’s second in terms of the moment of the week. He was hit in the helmet by the pitch on Sunday during the Marlins’ season finale against the New York Yankees. Mart was considered OK after that incident.
If Mart is unable to continue, the Marlins will likely turn to either Monte Harrison or Magnus Sierra. Of the two, Sierra has performed aggressively better this season: 91 OPS + postings compared to Harrison’s 35 marks compared to so many bats (47 vs. 44).
In exchange for Mart, the Marlins sent three clocks to Arizona: Pte Caleb Smith on the left and possibly Humberto Mejia and Julio Frias.
Mart.5 is under contract for an additional season with a 12.5 million club option. Marlins could alternatively buy that option for 1 million.
