Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara didn't have a ton of success during Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals. He retired the first nine batters he faced before running into trouble in the fourth inning. Alcantara struggled allowing four runs over the next few innings. He would finish his day with four earned runs on five hits while walking four batters across 5 1/3 innings of work. Alcantara was given enough run support to earn the win, but it wasn't a pretty start from him. The hope is that Alcantara will get back on track against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his next start.
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (personal) is scheduled to take the mound against the Washington Nationals on Saturday. He was previously scheduled to start last Sunday, but the game against the Atlanta Braves got rained out and then he was placed on the paternity list earlier this week. Alcantara likely would've taken the ball on Monday, but he went on the paternity leave list. He's back now, so fantasy managers can pencil him in to take the mound versus the Nats this weekend. Alcantara has a 3.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP with 11 strikeouts across two starts this season.
Sunday's contest at Truist Park between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves was postponed due to inclement weather, pushing right-hander Sandy Alcantara back. Alcantara also will not start in Monday's series opener against the division-rival New York Mets at Citi Field, as he and his wife expecting a baby girl. He will fly back to Miami on Sunday and will be placed on the paternity list on Monday. The 29-year-old will be away from the team for a few days and won't be able to take his next turn in the starting rotation until later this week, most likely for a series with the division-rival Washington Nationals back in Miami next weekend. Miami's starter for Monday's game in New York is TBD at the moment. The Dominican hurler has a 3.72 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts after missing all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Marlins Don't Have Innings Limit For Sandy Alcantara
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that "no innings limit is set on Sandy Alcantara." There have been various reports floating around this spring that Alcantara will be on an innings limit in 2025 after he missed all of last year due to Tommy John surgery. However, Alcantara said on Saturday night that he wasn't aware of any innings limits, and now the team's new skipper has confirmed that. While fantasy managers may still want to temper expectations for the 29-year-old after the long layoff, the news that he won't be held back at all will surely cause his ADP to rise before your league's draft day. That is especially true after the Dominican hurler has looked electric this spring, allowing no runs in his three starts (5 2/3 innings) while striking out five and walking two. The two-time All-Star has ace potential and won the National League Cy Young in 2022 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 207 K's.
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara said he is not aware of a potential innings limit. Earlier in the week, there were reports that former Cy Young winner will be put on an innings limit during the early part of the 2025 season. While this may still occur, the right-hander has not been informed of this strategy. Alcantara is working his way back from Tommy John and slated to be the team's Opening Day starter. After enjoying a career-season in 2022 where he held a 2.28 ERA with a stellar 0.98 WHIP across 228 2/3 innings of work, he took a slight step back in 2023 as he posted a 4.14 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. During that season he still showed strong command with a 6.3 percent walk rate and generated groundballs at a strong 51.9 percent rate. Even though he may be limited at times during the season, Alcantara is a high upside starting pitcher when healthy.
ESPN's Jeff Passan write that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is back after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery, will be on an innings limit early this year. The 2022 National League Cy Young winner has looked like his old self in spring training, throwing sinkers at 98-100 mph, mixing in one of the best changeups in the league and also sporting a 90-mph slider. The 29-year-old has been so impressive already that teams are already wondering whether he will be available at this summer's trade deadline, especially since he's under contract through 2026 and has a club option in 2027. There's inherent risk in counting on pitchers coming off TJ surgery in fantasy -- RotoBaller has Alcantara ranked at No. 44 among starting pitchers -- but his draft stock will continue to rise he keeps looking good this spring. In three Grapefruit League starts, Alcantara hasn't allowed a run with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames.
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) has been named the team's Opening Day starter on March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to MLB.com's Christina De Nicola. Alcantara missed all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery that he had in October of 2023, but he's avoided any setbacks and is a full-go for spring training. While RotoBaller has Alcantara ranked as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher going into the 2025 season because of the fact that the Marlins will likely limit his innings this year, his draft stock should continue to rise if he avoids any setbacks in Grapefruit League games and looks more like his pre-surgery self. The 29-year-old had excellent command and control when he won the National League Cy Young in 2022, but don't be surprised if he's not as sharp out of the gates in his return in 2025. Although the upside won't be as high early on, an Opening Day matchup against the Bucs is enticing.
Sandy Alcantara Throws Live Batting Practice On Wednesday
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) was seen throwing live batting practice in camp on Wednesday. It was Alcantara's first live BP session of spring training as he finishes the final steps of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he had in early October of 2023. The 29-year-old missed all of the 2024 campaign as a result, but he's making good progress already this spring and should be able to eventually pitch in Grapefruit League games. However, this is a reminder that the Marlins will be extremely cautious with the former National League Cy Young winner. But barring a setback in spring training, Alcantara has a good shot to be ready for Opening Day in late March. There is the allure of Alcantara returning to his pre-surgery ace form, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations. RotoBaller has him listed as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher in 2025.
Sandy Alcantara Likely To Be On Innings Limit Early On
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) told the media that he will let the team handle his innings in the first two months of the 2025 season. But after that, Alcantara said, "I think they gotta let me compete." Alcantara did not pitch at all in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, so the expectation all along is that he'd be limited from a workload perspective early on this year as Miami eased him back into the starting rotation. It's unclear exactly what the Marlins' plan for Alcantara is, but the good news for fantasy managers is that the 29-year-old is expected to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The two-time All-Star won the National League Cy Young in 2022, so we already know the kind of upside he possesses, but fantasy managers should temper expectations in his first season back. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher in 2025.
Sandy Alcantara Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day
The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson writes that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is returning from Tommy John surgery, is ready to pitch on Opening Day on March 27 against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Alcantara, a former National League Cy Young winner, had Tommy John surgery in October of 2023 and missed all of the 2024 season. However, he began facing live hitters last September and isn't expected to have any restrictions during spring training. Alcantara has already shown that he can be a fantasy ace, but his long layoff should have fantasy managers wondering if he can immediately return to that high-end form in 2025. Pitchers typically struggle with control and command in their return from TJ surgery, and Alcantara relied heavily on his command and control before his injury. He'll be a risk/reward fantasy pitcher this year, with RotoBaller ranking him as the No. 46 starting pitcher.