Brian Meadows joined fellow Marlins starters Rafael Medina, Joe Fontenot, and Eric Ludwick on the disabled list. Meadows strained his groin muscle during a horrible outing Monday in Houston. Meadows allowed 5 runs in the first inning and never seemed to settle in. Livan Hernandez is the only Marlins who was on the opening week rotation to still pitch. Jesus Sanchez, who joined the rotation two weeks into the season, along with Livan are the only starters who are not demoted or injured.

Following successful starts in Philadelphia, Jim Leyland has moved Kirt Ojala and recently promoted Andy Larkin, back into the starting rotation. Ryan Dempster moved into the bullpen and Eric Ludwick returned to the DL. The other pitchers in the rotation will move up one day. In Houston, Brian Meadows will pitch on Monday, Ojala on Tuesday, Larkin on Wednesday, and Livan Hernandez on Thursday.

5/22/98 — Livan Hernandez pitched a complete game, leading the Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rookie Todd Dunwoody had 3 hits, leading the Marlins in victory.

The World Champion Florida Marlins open the 1998 season in front of a sold out crowd at Pro Player Stadium today at 4:35. The Marlins’ Livan Hernandez will start for Florida, while Kevin Tapani start for the visiting Cubs. Bobby Bonilla will throw the first pitch to Alex Fernandez. Broadcast on SportsChannel Florida and WGN.

The Marlins 1998 Opening Day Lineup:

Livan Hernandez will start game 1 of the World Series Saturday, against Cleveland. The rest of the rotation has not been set. Kevin Brown will probably pitch game 2.

Good news from the doctor. Alex Fernandez only has a partial tear of the rotator cuff (originally diagnosed as a complete tear). Fernandez will probably be back half-way through next season.

Alex Fernandez has a torn rotator cuff. The injury had occurred prior to game 2 and doctors still cannot understand how he was able to pitch (2-2/3 innings, 5 earned runs). He might be out the all of next season (an possibly, his career might be over). The Marlins not only lose their second best pitcher, but bullpen depth, as Livan Hernandez will start game 6. The Marlins will still have to protect Fernandez in the expansion draft because of a no-trade clause in his contract.