Baseball is finally back and it is making is triumphant return to Marlins Park Tuesday, as the Miami Marlins battle the Detroit Tigers in an opening two-game set. The first of the two games has a first pitch set from 7:05PM while Wednesday's game is set for a slightly earlier 4:55PM start. This will be the first game at Marlins Park since the team decided to bring the fences in and lower the walls inside of the ballpark.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday: Wei-Yin Chen vs. Justin Verlander: Both pitchers are coming into today's game with something to prove. After several seasons filled with struggles, Justin Verlander is out to prove he can return to where he used to be, a set of illustrious season filled with Cy Young Awards and one MVP award. Once a pitcher who flaunted a 7.7 WAR, Verlander has seemingly lost a step the past two seasons, and is looking to get back to where he used to be. On the other side, the Marlins run out Wei-Yin Chen, who's out to prove he is worth the 5-year $80 million deal the Marlins awarded him this winter. This is an interesting match-up as it pits two pitchers who are looking to establish themselves early on the season. Verlander is trying to establish that he's back to where he used to be, while Chen is looking to make an impression on the fans in Miami, letting them know he is their ace.
Wednesday: Anibal Sanchez vs. Jose Fernandez: Not too long ago, Anibal Sanchez was a young, promising, and by all accounts, intriguing pitcher when he made his debut in 2009. After extremely solid 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons, Sanchez was dealt to the Detroit, a city which he has made his home for the past three full seasons. Sanchez is tasked with being the bridge in-between aces Justin Verlander and Jordan Zimmermann in the Tigers rotation. On the other end, a man who requires no introduction, Jose Fernandez. After triumphantly returning last season, Fernandez is looking to keep up his stellar career inside of Marlins Park where he holds a perfect 17-0 record, with a 1.40 ERA.
Five Things To Watch
1. Chen's debut: As previously noted, Wei-Yin Chen is making his Marlins debut as the Opening Day starter for the Fish and that comes with a lot of expectation. Not only did he bump young star Jose Fernandez out of the starting spot on Opening Day, but he just signed a 5-year deal with the team, worth $80 million with an additional $16 million in incentives. With all of this big money, it will be important to get himself established early and prove to the organization and fans that he was worth the large financial investment.
2. Giancarlo Stanton's Return: After another injury cut his 2015 season short, Giancarlo Stanton is out to prove that he can battle through another injury and return to be a productive player. Combine that with his ability to produce unbelievable 400 foot home runs, and Stanton's return is one of the main attractions in this years' opening series.
3. The Fences: It seems so simple, move in the fences at one of the largest parks in the majors. This will have two effects, more home runs and offense, but, it will also keep the Marlins and opposing pitchers on their toes a little bit more. Their true effect will only be known over a long period of time, but it's effects on the way both pitchers and hitters attack the park will be a source of intrigue.
4. Can Jose Fernandez remain unbeaten?: Jose Fernandez is 17-0 at Marlins Park, and has continued to be dominant pitching at home, with the dangerous Tigers offense looming, can Fernandez remain unbeaten at home?
5. Establishing early season momentum: The Marlins struggled to open 2015, which eventually led to the dismissal of manager Mike Redmond. With an organization that is well noted for it's impatience, the Marlins need to get some early wins under their belt and get the ball rolling, proving to the organization that this is a team that can consistently contend in the National League East.
Scouting the Enemy: Questions with Rob Rogacki of Bless You Boys: To get a better read on the Tigers, I spoke with the editor of SB Nation's Detroit Tigers fansite, Bless You Boys. Their editor, Rob Rogacki graciously answered a couple of questions on the Tigers and how they stack up against the Marlins.
Question: It's been well-documented that Justin Verlander has struggled the past couple of seasons, how much could a solid start Tuesday help ease some of the concerns about his decline?