ATLANTA — Alex Wood will face Marlins ace Jose Fernandez again Tuesday in Miami, giving the Atlanta Braves left-hander a chance for a little payback and fans an opportunity to watch another potential pitching duel.
Fernandez, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, struck 14 and Wood fanned 11 as the Marlins defeated the Braves 1-0 on April 22 at Turner Field.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time opposing pitchers 24 or younger each struck out more than 10 batters since 1901.
Because of off days, each pitcher will have extra rest before the rematch, which could make things even more intriguing.
Fernandez, 21, is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA. Wood, 23, has a 1.54 ERA, although he is a hard-luck 2-3.
“It (stinks) to be on the wrong end of it,” Wood said after losing the first meeting. “But from a pitching standpoint, I think (Fernandez) would probably tell you the same thing, it doesn’t get any more fun than that. That’s like going back to high school days when you match up against your rival across town.”
It was the second consecutive 1-0 loss for Wood. He lost a duel with the Phillies’ Cliff Lee in Philadelphia on April 17.
“Maybe this is one of those games you watch on ESPN Classic three or four years down the road, and you say, ‘OK, that was nice to see,’” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the Wood-Fernandez duel.
When Fernandez faced Atlanta last September in Miami, he spiced up a victory by celebrating his first homer a little too much. The Braves took exception.
“People think I hate him, but I love the guy,” Braves third baseman Chris Johnson said. “People think it was one-sided with him doing all of the apologizing. I did a lot of things wrong last year with that experience.
“He’s the best you’re going to get, so you put yourself up against the best and see how you stack up.”