It’s Old Orel vs. Young Livan

The Florida Marlins are favored to win the World Series because of their superior starting pitching, but the Cleveland Indians may have a slight edge in that department tonight.

Orel Hershiser, the 39-year-old right-hander with an 8-1 playoff record and 1.93 earned-run average, will start Game 1 for the Indians, opposite Livan Hernandez, a 22-year-old right-hander who has never pitched in the World Series.

“Experience is important because it relieves the surprise, the emotions, the newness of the situation,” said Hershiser, who is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in four World Series games. “You learn to deal with the hype, to not let your adrenaline kick in too soon. You have to discipline yourself to stay calm.”

Hernandez, though, is not your average 22-year-old major leaguer. The Cuban defector replaced the injured Alex Fernandez in the rotation and threw a three-hitter with 15 strikeouts to beat Atlanta, 2-1, in Game 5 of the National League championship series.

“I don’t know about Orel, but I know Livan just beat Greg Maddux,” Florida Manager Jim Leyland said. “He’s a real bright kid, he knows what he has to do, and he’s matured a lot. I have a lot of confidence in him.”

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Hershiser finally responded Friday to Baltimore Manager Davey Johnson’s implication during the American League championship series that Hershiser throws a spitball.

“I have no problem being accused of that,” Hershiser said. “The biggest problem I have with it is that, as role models, kids don’t understand that a guy is just trying to get under another guy’s skin. I don’t want those kids to think I’m a cheater, because I don’t cheat.”

Johnson made similar accusations against Hershiser when his New York Mets faced Hershiser’s Dodgers in the 1988 NL playoffs, but Hershiser said his friendship with Johnson--they belong to the same golf club in Orlando--has not been damaged.

“But,” Hershiser said, getting in the last word, “he puts Vaseline on his golf balls so they don’t curve.”

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Indian second baseman Bip Roberts’ bruised left thumb, injured when he was struck by Tony Fernandez’s batting-practice liner Wednesday, has healed enough for Roberts to start tonight, but Hargrove is considering starting Fernandez instead.