LOS ANGELES -- It is a big night for the Japanese media that follows both the Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
Either sensing the moment or just wanting to give Marcell Ozuna (batting .220 over his past 12 games), Marlins manager Don Mattingly is giving Ichiro Suzuki a rare start tonight -- against his fellow countryman, Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda.
It is only the fourth start this season for the 42-year-old Suzuk and a matchup that Maeda said Wednesday he "never imagined" would happen. Maeda grew up idolizing Ichiro and was "very happy" just to meet him for the first time this week.