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Miami Marlins vs. Cincinnati Reds: Game 16 Thread and Ichthyomancy

Tonight, the Miami Marlins may be a part of the most exciting pitching matchup in baseball, as rookie phenom Jose Fernandez faces off against the Cincinnati Reds and fellow prospect Tony Cingrani at the Great American Ballpark.

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports


Current Series

4 game series vs Reds @ Great American Ball Park

Miami Marlins
@ Cincinnati Reds

Thursday, Apr 18, 2013, 7:10 PM EDT
Great American Ball Park

Jose Fernandez vs Tony Cingrani

Partly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 15-20 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80.

Complete Coverage >

Fri 04/19 7:10 PM EDT
Sat 04/20 1:10 PM EDT
Sun 04/21 1:10 PM EDT

The Miami Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds are facing off, and a number of factors are going into an interesting game tonight between the division favorites in the NL Central and the bottom-feeders of the NL East. The Marlins are returning Giancarlo Stanton. The Reds have perennial MVP candidate Joey Votto. The Great American Ballpark allows a lot of home runs. One of those teams is good and could blow out the other team badly.

But all eyes are going to be one matchup and one matchup only: rookie phenom Jose Fernandez of the Marlins versus rookie phenom and debuting starter Tony Cingrani of the Reds. These two will duke it out for the first time, and it should be one hell of a show.

Pitching Matchup

Proj Win% Proj ERA FIP ERA Marlins Reds ERA FIP Proj ERA Proj Win%
.520 3.79 1.54 0.82 Fernandez Cingrani --- --- 3.26 .586

Baseball projection systems are not built to project neither Fernandez nor Cingrani at this stage. Fernandez has logged just 11 major league innings, but he's been fantastic in every one, striking out 13 batters and walking two en route to a single run allowed. Tony Cingrani has a low-90s fastball with deception and control, but he has posted such ridiculous video game numbers in the minors (211 2/3 innings pitched, 278 strikeouts, 60 walks, 1.62 ERA) that his ability cannot be ignored.

For the Marlins' and Reds' offenses, it is a rock and a hard place, and it is the premium matchup of the night in baseball. Everyone should tune in and take a look.

Lineup

I will not be around for lineup release and possibly the start of the game, so you Fish Stripers will have to assist once more.

Notes

- Giancarlo Stanton should return to the lineup tonight in right field, but do not expect Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop.

- If you want a preview of tonight's stellar pitching matchup, Marc Normandin of the dot-com has the tale of the tape.

Bold Prediction: Red def. Marlins 2-0