Astros pitcher remembers Jose Fernandez.

MIAMI — When Lance McCullers Jr. steps onto the Marlins Park mound Wednesday, for the Houston Astros against the Miami Marlins, he’ll be thinking about his longtime friend who was so dominant on it: Jose Fernandez.

McCullers and Fernandez met as Tampa-area high school stars, shortly after Fernandez settled there after defecting from Cuba. They became workout partners and, when the Marlins drafted Fernandez in 2011 and the Astros took McCullers in 2012, budding pros who daydreamed of one day pitching against each other in the big leagues.

McCullers will carry out a version of that goal in the Marlins and Astros’ series finale. Fernandez, who died when he crashed his boat off Miami Beach last September, won’t be physically present, but McCullers likes to think a piece of him will be there.

“Being in the league right now, as a guy who knew him and wants to remember him, I think that’s the best way to do it — being able to play the game that he loved,” McCullers said. “[Fernandez] is on my mind a lot, actually. As with a lot of guys that knew him really well, and when you play this game, it’s tough to get away from it.”

Before every start this season, McCullers has written a “16” — Fernandez’s number — in the dirt on the back of the mound. He also ordered a custom-made glove from Wilson to be the exact model, the A2K, Fernandez used his rookie year. It’s Astros orange with a hint of blue, plus Fernandez’s name written in blue script along the side. McCullers doesn’t use the finger hole on the back, but that’s OK — Jose had it there, so McCullers wants it there.

Delivered in time for his Wednesday start will be special cleats, too. Nomad Custom, a Miami-based custom footwear outfit, had made a few pairs for Fernandez through the years, and McCullers has since hit them up.

McCullers doesn’t know yet what his shoes will look like.

“I told [Nomad Customs] to make them how they thought Jose would like them,” McCullers said.

McCullers will have to put his emotions aside, of course, when it comes time for first pitch. Fernandez was brilliant in his home ballpark — 29-2 with a 1.49 ERA and 0.92 WHIP — and McCullers will aim to perform similarly.

“I’m glad I have two days here [in Miami] before I pitch,” McCullers said. “It’ll be emotional, but at the end of the day, I think what he would want me to do most is go out there and try to shove.”

Rojas eyes All-Star break

Miami infielder Miguel Rojas is hoping — optimistically — to return to action around the All-Star break after successful surgery Friday on his fractured right thumb. Doctors told Rojas there was no tendon or ligament damage, so Rojas feels positive despite the three pins and small plate that now reside inside his thumb.

Rojas will visit the doctor again this Friday, the oneweek mark of his surgery, and could have his hard cast replaced by a removable splint. That would allow him to start working out other parts of his hand.

Manager Don Mattingly is being a little more cautious with the timeline.

“I’m sure he wants to get back in exactly the amount of time they’re saying,” Mattingly said. “I think [head athletic trainer Dustin Luepker] expressed a more conservative [estimate] than that. We’ll see what he’s able to do as time goes.”

Odds & ends

The Marlins outrighted utilityman Yefri Perez to Double-A Jacksonville. He came off the 40-man roster last week when the club added Mike Aviles .…

Lefty Justin Nicolino will take his next turn in the rotation, Friday against the Dodgers, but the Marlins have flexibility after that, with off days bookending a two-game series in Oakland next week. Jeff Locke (shoulder tendinitis) is also expected to be about ready to return to the majors after two more rehab starts. …

ELSA/GETTY IMAGES Wednesday’s Astros’ starter Lance McCullers Jr. was a good friend of Jose Fernandez’s from back when they were high school players.