a shooting rhythm against the Tigers, finishing 5 of 15 from the floor. The senior made only one of his first six shot attempts.This was two days after

MIAMI -- With Jose Fernandez on the mound, Dee Gordon returning from suspension, Ichiro Suzuki continuing to chase 3,000 hits and two teams battling for wild-card playoff spots, there will be no shortage of story lines on Thursday when the Miami Marlins play host to the St. Louis Cardinals.Fernandez is nearly unbeatable at Marlins Park. The way he has pitched at home -- 26-1 with a 1.47 ERA -- he can pretty much throw his glove on this mound and win.Overall, he is 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA. The 12 wins match a career high for the two-time All-Star. And dont sleep on Fernandez offensively, either. He has six RBI this season.The Cardinals will counter with Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.37 ERA), who was a bit shaky in his most recent start, allowing 10 hits but just two runs. Overall, though, Wacha has held opponents to three or fewer runs in eight straight starts.Wacha vs. Fernandez should be a good matchup. Wacha, the 19th overall pick in the 2012 draft, is only 25, but he is already an All-Star (2015) and a National League Championship Series MVP (2013).In that same year when Wacha was MVP, Fernandez was the NL Rookie of the Year. Fernandez is only 23 years old, but he already ranks as one of the games best.As for Gordon, he is due back after an 80-game ban for using performance-enhancing suspension.His return should inject some life in a lineup that earlier this week went 24 innings without scoring before breaking out on Wednesday with an 11-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.Gordon led the NL in steals and batting average last year, and he will also be an upgrade defensively at second base.Suzuki, who is three hits from 3,000, is a reserve outfielder, and it is unknown when he will get his next start. His most recent start came Tuesday, when he went 1-for-5.Well play what we think is our best lineup and move forward, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Its a little uncomfortable when you get that close with Ich because you dont want to put him out there just to (get to 3,000).We have been playing in the concept of the team the whole year. Youd like Ich to get (No. 3,000) at home, but I dont want to force it.If its a good matchup or if a guy needs a day off and its a good thing for our team, well do it.As for the pennant race, the Marlins (55-46) lead the Cardinals (54-47) by one game and the New York Mets (53-47) by 1 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot.The Cardinals scored twice in the ninth inning off Mets closer Jeurys Familia on Wednesday night, rallying to win 5-4.St. Louis won two of three in the important series, and the Cardinals also earned the distinction of ending Familias streak of 52 consecutive saves.So there you have it -- a confident Cardinals team travels on little rest to visit a confident Marlins team with a lot on the line in a hot playoff race.And, oh yes, Fernandez takes on Wacha, Gordon returns from suspension and Suzuki chases 3,000. Keith Yandle Jersey . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Shane Doan Jersey . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/928z-oliver-ekman-larsson-jersey-coyotes.html . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Cheap Coyotes Jerseys . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Michael Grabner Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Brady Ellingson hopes this early scoring outburst cements his role as Iowas sharpshooter off bench.Ellingson scored 21 of his career-high 23 points in the first half, Cordell Pemsl added 18 points and nine rebounds and Iowa breezed to a 116-84 win over Savannah State on Sunday.The Hawkeyes (2-0) made a school-record 18 3-pointers and led by at least 20 points the entire second half. Iowas 116 points are the most in Fran McCafferys six seasons as coach and tied for the seventh most in program history.Ellingson hit 4 of 6 3-pointers -- a much-needed confidence boost after a rough start to his college career. The sophomore guard battled a foot injury during a redshirt season two years ago and was in and out of the rotation last season because of inconsistent play.(My confidence) was really high, Ellingson said. I was really open, so I got to set my feet.Troyce Manassa had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Savannah State (0-2), which committed 20 turnovers.Tyler Cook scored 14 points and Peter Jok had 13 for the Hawkeyes. Nicholas Baer added nine points and a career-best six assists. Iowas bench scored 76 points -- led by Ellingson.The Hawkeyes were out-rebounded in the first half, but came back to edge the Tigers 52-40 on the boards.Iowa has won 39 of its last 40 non-conference home games.BIG PICTUREIowa: Pemsl wasnt the most prolific recruit in McCafferys freshman class, but hes clearly going to be a factor off the bench for Iowa. At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, Pemsl is strong, but he has a greaat handle around the rim.dddddddddddd Pemsl made all seven of his field goal tries and converted four and-one opportunities.Hes just a really skilled big man, McCaffery said. He has an innate ability to make a decision in traffic.Savannah State: The Tigers have allowed 113 and 116 points in their first two games. They mixed up man and zone defenses against Iowa -- neither were very effective. Savannah State had the best scoring defense in the MEAC last season, but it lost four starters from that team.STAR WATCHJok never got into a shooting rhythm against the Tigers, finishing 5 of 15 from the floor. The senior made only one of his first six shot attempts.This was two days after Jok scored 27 points against Kennesaw State -- the most by a Hawkeye in a season opener since Adam Haulskas 29 against The Citadel in 2006. Joks 27 points was also the most by a Big Ten player among Fridays games.HE SAID ITWe would have preferred a little more of a mixture of penetration, but we have good 3-point shooters, McCaffery said. And we were open.The Hawkeyes attempted a school-record 43 3-pointers. Iowa made just 7 of 22 3s in Fridays opener.UP NEXTIowa faces its first real challenge of the season on Thursday against Seton Hall (2-0) as part of the Big Ten- Big East series.Savannah State plays Middle Georgia State in its home opener on Thursday before another tough test at Memphis next weekend. ' ' '