Sandy Alcantara to finish year as reliever

What is going on here? Alcantara leads the league with 213 innings pitched and weirdly, two have come in relief over the past week. With a save in each, Alcantara also became the first pitcher to alternate four outings with a start going at least five innings and a save since the save became an official stat in 1969. The first of those saves seemed like an act of desperation by the Marlins amidst bullpen issues and at the time, they were still alive in the playoff race. Now, they’re eliminated and still tried this for a second time. Since Eury Pérez has also come out of the bullpen in the past week, this feels like some sort of experiment. Regardless, these two surprising saves from Alcantara could have swung a few fantasy leagues.

Alcantara was back down to 97 mph with his fastball and sinker today after averaging 100.4 mph in his relief appearance, and he gave up four runs for the fifth consecutive start. He’s now gone six weeks without winning, and his ERA is up to 3.91 as he prepares to face the Braves in his final start of the year.

After giving up four runs in five innings Monday, Alcantara tonight made his first ever relief appearance with the Marlins and got three outs on 329- and 396-foot flyballs and then a caught stealing after a walk. The 329-footer was actually closer to being a homer than the 396-footer, since it was right down the left field line. Alcantara averaged 100.4 mph with his fastball in the one-inning outing, which is three mph higher than his average as a starter this season. Alcantara’s only previous relief appearances came in his only eight games with the Cardinals in 2017 before he was traded to the Marlins that winter. He’s still slated to start Sunday against the Padres.

Alcantara outpitched Corbin Burnes and left with a one-run lead that later increased to three runs, but Arizona was able to come back from there. This makes four straight starts in which Alcantara has given up at least four runs, taking his ERA from 3.38 to 3.86. At least he did rebound some with six strikeouts tonight, matching his total from his three previous starts combined. He’ll face the Padres next.

Alcantara gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out one. He fell to 13-10 with the loss. Alcantara allowed at least seven runs in a start three times in his first 12 starts and had a 4.66 ERA in that span. In his next 18 starts before Tuesday, he never allowed more than five runs in a start and had a 2.84 ERA. Alcantara has a 3.78 ERA. Though the outing against the Mets was concerning, Alcantara can be trusted to bounce back in his next start against the Diamondbacks on the road next week.

Alcantara struck out two batters in the contest while walking one. Carter Jensen was responsible for most of the damage done against him, with an RBI triple in the third inning and a two-run blast in the fifth. The 30-year-old righty got eight whiffs on 98 pitches on the evening, posting a miserable CSW of only 20 percent. He’ll bring a 13-9 record, 3.54 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 142/51 K/BB ratio (195 2/3 innings) into Tuesday’s battle against the Mets.

Alcantara stranded two runners in each of the first two innings before the Nationals broke through against him in the third, bringing four runs home on a walk and four hits. He’d settle down to give the Marlins three more scoreless frames before ending his day after six innings at 94 pitches. He struck out three. The 30-year-old right-hander will take a 3.46 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 140/50 K/BB ratio across 189 2/3 innings into a start against the Royals in Kansas City on Thursday.

Alcantara finished with six strikeouts and only issued one walk. He gave up only six hits with an RBI double by Mickey Gasper in the fifth inning representing the lone tally against him. The 30-year-old workhorse has allowed three earned runs or fewer, while tossing at least six frames, in six consecutive starts dating back to July 28. He’ll wrap up a two-start week with a road matchup against the Nationals on Sunday.

Alcantara only struck out one batter on the evening but came away with a quality start. He has his lowest strikeout rate since 2019, but his run prevention has rebounded after last season’s 5.36 ERA. He leads MLB in innings pitched this season, a feat he also accomplished in 2022. He’ll carry a 3.46 ERA into his next matchup, a home start against the Red Sox.

Alcantara found himself in the middle of a pitching duel with Chase Burns on Friday. Alcantara was solid in this one. Despite issuing four walks over his seven innings of work, he kept the Reds hitless through his first three innings of work, with his lone earned run coming in the sixth inning after an RBI double by Eugenio Suárez. The lone earned run by Alcantara marks his first since July 22nd, bringing his scoreless innings streak to 25 2/3 innings. He’ll look to start a new streak when he takes the mound again on Wednesday against the Phillies.