After a 3-1 loss to open the four-game series against the Miami Marlins last night, the Colorado Rockies will look to even the series tonight at Coors Field.
The task will not be easy as the Marlins have their ace, 20-year-old Jose Fernandez, on the mound. Fernandez was Miami's first-round pick in 2011 after fleeing his native Cuba in 2008. He enters tonight's game with a 2.75 ERA in 18 starts, with opposing hitters batting .196 against him and 103 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings. A week ago, he was the Marlins' lone representative at the MLB All-Star Game.
In his last eight starts, Fernandez has compiled a 1.72 ERA in 52 1/3 innings with 51 strikeouts. This will be the rookie's first appearance at Coors Field.
In addition to Fernandez, the Marlins have called up outfielders Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick to play in the outfield tonight. Yelich, rated as the No. 15 prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the 2013 season, will be batting second and playing left field while Marisnick, rated No. 64 on Baseball America's preseason prospect list, will bat sixth and play center field. Both will be making their big league debuts.
The Rockies will counter with their Opening Day starter Jhoulys Chacin on the mound. Chacin has been nearly as impressive as Fernandez lately, with a 1.94 ERA in his last seven starts, four of which have come at Coors Field. For the season, he is 9-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 113 innings.
The Rockies will go with a fairly standard lineup, meaning All-Stars Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Cuddyer occupy the 3-4-5 spots in the order.
Here is tonight's #Marlins lineup in Colorado: pic.twitter.com/i9jV01orPP
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 23, 2013
#Rockies 7/23 vs. MIA: Fowler 8, LeMahieu 4, CarGo 7, Tulo 6, Cuddy 9, Helton 3, Rosario 2, Arenado 5, Chacin 1
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 23, 2013