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.

Tickets for the first round of the playoffs were made available. The Marlins will play the winner of the West (the Giants have a 2-game lead) at the Stadium on September 30 and October 1. Expect Kevin Brown to start the first game and either Al Leiter or Alex Fernandez to start the second.

With an 8-6 come-from-behind victory in Houston and a Braves loss, the Marlins gained another game on the Braves. The Marlins are only 3 out in the loss column while the Braves have played 3 more games. Alex Fernandez continues to dominate striking out ten to improve his record to 15-8. Nen saves his 30th game in 36 attempts.

Charles Johnson hit a 3-run home run and Alex Fernandez recorded his 14th win, as the Marlins beat the braves 6-4 cutting the lead in the NL East to 4-1/2 games. CJ has hit 9 home runs since the All-Star break.