MIAMI - Two of the best young pitchers in baseball will take the mound tonight at Marlins Park, as the Pirates send Gerrit Cole out to take on Jose Fernandez. Cole enters tonight's start with a 2.53 ERA, while Fernandez carries in a 2.82 ERA. Fernandez actually has the stronger numbers, with his 2.53 xFIP and his 13.4 K/9 showing off his dominance. Cole hasn't pitched as well as his ERA has indicated, with a 4.03 xFIP and a 7.4 K/9.
There's no questioning the skill of either pitcher though. These types of games always look like a classic pitcher's duel beforehand, although Clint Hurdle notes that they don't always turn out that way.