Atlanta Braves reliever Chris Martin injures oblique in Game 1

The Atlanta Braves opted for a shorter bullpen for the opening round of the playoffs.  That decision is now immediate being challenged.

Chris Martin came into the game to work the 8th inning of Game 1 for the Atlanta Braves, but exited before even being able to throw a single competitive pitch.

Observation and a later broadcast report suggests that Martin felt a twinge in his left-side oblique during warmups.  He immediately left the game and went directly into the Braves clubhouse.

Luke Jackson was called upon to replace him.  Jackson had been warmed up previously, but 2 pitches into his appearance, Paul Goldschmidt destroyed a baseball to reduce the Braves’ lead to 3-2.

Jackson got the next 2 batters, but then gave up two hits and was replaced.

Martin’s injury history says nothing about obliques:  shoulder, labrum, and ankle… yes, but nothing of this sort.

The Braves will be able to replace Martin on the roster for Game 2, though to avoid shenanigans, there is a procedure (emphasis added):

"Teams submit a 25-man roster prior to each round of the postseason comprised of postseason-eligible players. A club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is injured during the course of a series, but that player is then ineligible for the rest of that round and the subsequent round, if there is one. A pitcher may be replaced only by another pitcher, and a position player only by another position player."

Martin hadn’t allowed a run in his last 6 outings (his overall ERA for the regular season stood at 3.40), and it’s certainly possible that this injury could still be pointed to as a key moment in this game.

As things unfolded, St. Louis has scored twice (both runs charged to Jackson) to tie the game, mid 8th.

We will have to wait until Friday to learn the extent of the injury, whether Martin may be able to return in a later playoff round, and… especially… who might be selected to replace him.