Potential can’t-miss interleague pitching matchups in 2015

Sep 21, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) deliverers a pitch against Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Now that there’s interleague play every night of the baseball season, exhilarating pitching matchups pitting the best of the American and National Leagues against each other have become a more regular occurrence.

Taking a look at the 2015 MLB schedule, these are a few of the best interleague pitching matchups we may see.

Jun 22, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (right) talks with teammate shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (left) the dugout during the third inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Masahiro Tanaka vs. Jose Fernandez

A bit more under-the-radar than the possibility of seeing Tanaka pitch against Harvey is the potential for him to pitch in a game against Miami Marlins young star Jose Fernandez.

Fernandez only started 8 games in 2014 and has just 36 in his career. In those starts though, he’s 16-8 with a 2.25 ERA while averaging more than a strikeout per inning. The backstory to a game between the Yankees and Marlins plus Tanaka and Fernandez would be a pitching matchup of Japan against Cuba.

The Yankees and Marlins will play each other in a home-and-home series June 15-18. We have to think that Fernandez will be back from Tommy John Surgery by then. The first two games will take place in Miami with the second two in New York. The worst-case scenario if they miss each other in the rotation might be seeing Tanaka pitch against Giancarlo Stanton.

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Sale vs. Jon Lester

If this matchup happens, it won’t be the first time we have seen Chris Sale face against Jon Lester. The two dominant lefties last pitched against each other on April 17, 2014 and it certainly lived up to the billing. Lester allowed 1 run in 8 innings while Sale allowed 1 run on 1 hit in 7 innings. The two combined for 19 strikeouts before the Chicago White Sox bullpen allowed 2 runs in the 9th to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-1 victory.

The last time they pitched against each other, however, Sale and Lester were not representing the same city. Now though, Lester pitches for the uptown rival Chicago Cubs, making this potential battle of aces even more exciting.

Natural rivals, these two teams play six games against each other in 2015. The first series will take place at Wrigley Field July 10-12. The White Sox then take over hosting duties for a three-game series August 14-16.

Aug 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) walks back to the dugout after the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins win 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Kluber vs. Jon Lester/Adam Wainwright/Johnny Cueto

Far from the most popular pitcher in baseball, Corey Kluber is still the reigning American League Cy Young winner. When he takes the mound in 2015, people better take notice and National League batters should prepare themselves for a strikeout.

There is no particular pitcher who fits naturally against him. However, Kluber will have the chance to pitch against any of the three best pitchers in the National League Central: Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright, and Johnny Cueto.

Kluber will first have a chance to pitch against Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals. His Cleveland Indians will host them May 12-14. Following a road trip, the Indians come back home to find Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds in town May 22-24. If Kluber and Cueto don’t pitch against each other in this series, they play another three-game set July 17-19 in Cincinnati.

Kluber’s opportunity to pitch against Lester comes in the form of a home-and-home series. The first two games take place in Chicago June 15-16. The next night they travel to Cleveland for two more games June 17-18.

Sep 28, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

David Price vs. Jon Lester/Adam Wainwright/Johnny Cueto

The 2015 season will be a new experience for David Price as he will begin his first full year as a Detroit Tiger. This sets up for some interesting pitching matchups during interleague play, including against his old rival, Jon Lester.

When Price was with the Tampa Bay Rays and Lester was with the Boston Red Sox, they saw each other plenty of times. In 2015, though, they will see each other in only two series. The first takes places June 9-10 in Detroit, with the second scheduled for August 18-19 in Chicago.

The other two pitchers Price may pitch against are Adam Wainwright and Johnny Cueto. Price will get his chance against Wainwright May 15-17 in St. Louis. An opportunity to pitch against Cueto, on the other hand, will come in a home-and-home series June 15-18. The first two games against the Reds will take place in Detroit with the second two in Cincinnati.

Sep 28, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) tips his cap to the fans as he walks from the mound in the sixth inning of a 4-0 Mariners victory over the Angels at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Felix Hernandez vs. Clayton Kershaw

Two teams that made a lot of changes to the roster in the 2014-2015 offseason were the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. Two players they had no interest in getting rid of were their aces, Felix Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw.

Hernandez vs. Kershaw is a pitching matchup we may see continue for several years. Both are young and if they are smart, saving room on their shelves for more Cy Young Awards.

Unfortunately it’s looking a bit unlikely that we will see Hernandez and Kershaw pitch against each other in 2015 when the Dodgers host the Mariners April 13-15. Assuming each starts Opening Day and they pitch on regular rest, both are scheduled to pitch the day before the series begins.

Things could change, but it is far more likely we see Hernandez start his second game of the Mariners’ series against the Oakland Athletics and Kershaw use his up versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (right) celebrates with catcher Buster Posey after defeating the Kansas City Royals during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Felix Hernandez vs. Madison Bumgarner

If he doesn’t pitch against Kershaw, things may be saved when Hernandez has the opportunity to pitch against Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants. The odds of this are also far more likely.

The 2015 season for Bumgarner is huge. He has to prove his successful 2014 campaign can be equaled or even topped. For the first time, Bumgarner may be the favorite coming into a game against Hernandez.

The opportunity to see these two pitch against each other comes in a home-and-home series June 15-18. The first two games will take place in San Francisco with the second pair in Seattle. If they do just miss each other it will end up with Hernandez pitching against the Houston Astros before and after the series. This is far less exciting for everyone, so hopefully everything works out and we see King Felix against Mad Bum.

Oct 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Yu Darvish vs. Clayton Kershaw

The Texas Rangers will come into the 2015 season looking to rebound after an abysmal 2014 full of injuries. One of those injured players was ace Yu Darvish. Since the interleague schedule includes teams pitching against their league counterpart, this sets up for the chance to see Darvish vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw.

The Rangers and Dodgers will play in a home-and-home series June 15-18. The first pair will have the Rangers in the home dugout while the second two game will taking place at Dodger Stadium.

These two masters of the strikeout have never pitched against each other. No matter which city takes place in, we can bet there won’t be very many runs scored.

Jul 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) throws during the game against the New York Yankees at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Yu Darvish vs. Madison Bumgarner

The 2015 season for Yu Darvish could be a difficult one. He may not only have to pitch against Clayton Kershaw, but also against Madison Bumgarner.

Darvish missed out on the 2010 World Series when the Rangers and Giants faced off and again in 2012 when they last played each other in the regular season. Seeing these two against each other will be a first and certainly a can’t-miss.

If we do see them pitch against each other it will have to be during a series in Texas when the Giants visit July 31-August 2. Beginning on the last day of the trade deadline, both teams could be very active. Thankfully, the chances either are traded are very slim.

Jul 8, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields (33) and Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price (14) share a laugh before the game as they used to be teammates at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Some of them are up in the air, but we are set to receive quite a few interleague pitching matchups that will be thrilling to everyone who tunes in. Having interleague play throughout the season is not a perfect system, but seeing stars like these ace pitchers make their way to cities not as familiar with them is a huge benefit.