Sandy

Alcantara

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.

Alcantara was lights out on Saturday, dominating the Angels over seven shutout innings. He scattered three hits and one walk while collecting eight strikeouts, tossing 70 of 108 pitches for strikes. The 30-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 128/42 K/BB ratio across an MLB-leading 163 2/3 innings. He’ll look to follow up the performance against the Reds in Cincinnati on Friday.

While Alcantara doesn’t like coming out of shutouts, he wasn’t nearly at his most efficient today, throwing 102 pitches to get his 18 outs. He gave up a single and a double before being pulled in the seventh, but Michael Petersen entered then and stranded both runners by striking out two and then getting a groundout. Alcantara moved to 12-6 with a 3.68 ERA. All signs point to the Marlins keeping him at the deadline and picking up his $21 million option for 2027 after the season. He’s due to face the Angels next Saturday.

The win gives the Marlins a two-game winning streak after losing their previous dozen in a row. Alcantara was brilliant; scattering four hits allowed — just one for extra bases — and he struck out five while issuing just one walk. It’s the fourth time in five starts in July that the 30-year-old has been able to go at least seven innings, and it lowers his ERA for the month to a solid 2.57. Overall, Alcantara is now up to 11-6 on the season with a 3.82 mark in 2026, and he’ll look to go deep again Sunday in a scheduled bout against the Mets in New York.

The Marlins desperately needed Alcantara to be their stopper following eight straight losses sandwiched around the All-Star break. He did not get off to a great start after letting up two runs, four hits, and six hard-hit balls in the first three innings. Then, he settled in through the middle inning retiring 11 of 13 batters from the fourth through seventh innings. It seemed like his night was over then after seven strong innings and 97 pitches, but he came back out for the eighth, let up an infield single to Jeremy Peña, and then back-to-back home runs by Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes. That final flurry ruined his final line and wound up sending the Marlins to their ninth straight loss as their season has hit an untimely tailspin. Perhaps this skid will put Alcantara back on the table in trade talks. Otherwise, he’s lined up for a two-start week coming up against the Phillies at home and Mets on the road.

This version of Alcantara is a total bulldog. Sure, he’s not missing bats at a prolific rate anymore and his command in this start was pretty all over the place. Yet, he never gave an inch. The Brewers very rarely squared him up and had 19 total foul balls while Alcantara continued to pepper them with sinkers, four-seamers, and cutters. Also a lost art in this day and age, Alcantara has now at least pitched into the sixth inning in 13 consecutive starts dating back to early May. He’ll take a 3.90 ERA, 107 strikeouts, and 37 walks through a league-leading 136 2/3 innings into his next start against the Astros in Houston.

The Marlins will open the second half with Alcantara on Friday, Max Meyer on Saturday, and Eury Pérez on Sunday. No major surprises here as these are the three main starters for the Marlins. All three of them are worthy starters in 12-team leagues coming out of the break.