Marlins manager Don Mattingly called Jose Ureña his team’s ace earlier this month.
Ureña doesn’t want to label himself in such a way.
But a year after the Marlins lost then-undisputed ace Jose Fernandez in a tragic boating accident, there’s little doubt who has been the Marlins’ most successful starting pitcher.
"You can start this guy and count on him for 30 starts or whatever and you have a chance to win if you can get enough of him in there," Mattingly said. "It’s been good to watch him progress."
On Wednesday, exactly a year since Fernandez pitched an eight-inning masterpiece in his final start to beat the Washington Nationals, Ureña threw eight solid innings to beat the New York Mets and record his team-leading 14th victory.