This was to be a Jose Fernandez start.
Now, it's José Day for an entirely different reason.
As family, friends, fans and admirers from around the world continue to mourn Fernandez's loss, the organization is forced to turn back toward the task of playing out the string for the final six games of the regular season.
I don't envy the players and coaches today; I had a hard enough time working my job yesterday without getting too wrapped up in the emotion of it all and I never even met the guy. These are people who formed a deep connection with José, who knew him better than perhaps even some family members did, people he loved and went to battle with every day. Tonight, they will all be wearing number 16 in his honor.
One thing was made crystal clear amidst all of the great tributes we saw yesterday: José Fernàndez LOVED baseball. He loved it with a passion that shined through brightly with every pitch, every flash of a grin, every exuberant dugout celebration. He would want his teammates to go out and keep playing the game he loved with every fiber of his being; to do their best, in spite of everything. As José's shadow continues to loom over the organization going forward, I have no doubt that the Marlins will rise to the challenge, this day and all the days to come. We can but trudge on doggedly ahead.
Pitching Matchup
Team | Pitcher | ERA | FIP | Zips Projected ERA |
NYM | Bartolo Colon | 3.12 | 3.93 | 4.25 |
MIA | Adam Conley | 3.94 | 4.12 | 4.22 |
Bartolo Colon continues to defy father time, putting up 2.9 fWAR to this point on a 14 win season.
Conley hasn't pitched since being sidelined August 13th. He was slated to start yesterday but was pushed forward to today due to the cancellation.
Bold Prediction: Marlins win 3-2.