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.