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Yankees keep Martin out, avoiding risk

Yankees keep Martin out, avoiding risk

NEW YORK -- Yankees catcher Russell Martin was out of the starting lineup again on Tuesday against the Indians as he works on reducing the stiffness in his lower back.

Martin swung a bat on Tuesday for the first time since being forced out of Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Mets. He said that he expects to play on Wednesday.

"It's not going to be 100 percent, I don't think," Martin said. "But as long as I take swings and it doesn't feel like it's getting worse, then I'll be satisfied with that."

Martin said that he has been receiving treatment and has had to deal with back stiffness at points during his career, including last season with the Yankees. Backup catcher Chris Stewart started again on Tuesday in place of Martin.

"He needs to be free and easy when he takes his swings," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That seemed to bother him the most. ... I don't really want to send a player out there whose swing is not what his swing is, because he's having some issues. I think you'd get some bad habits, and you can risk further injury."