Out of the gate Monday night, things looked tough for Miami Marlins’ starting pitcher Sandy Alcántara.
On the game’s second pitch, the Phillies’ Trea Turner sent a soaring home-run over the center field.
It was a fitting start to what has become a frustrating season for Alcántara, who entered the first of a four-game series versus the Philadelphia Phillies at loanDepot park with a 3-7 record and a 7.14 ERA across 13 starts. Now, the former Cy Young winner is looking to establish “consistency,” according to Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, as he struggles to regain his pre-Tommy John surgery dominance.
“Sandy is certainly at the point where he’s starting to get his swag back,” McCullough said before Monday’s 5-2 loss to the Phillies. “…I think it will continue to get better. It’s just the timing of all this and the progression that he’s on. But you know, [he had] a couple in a row where the results were very good. I think the quality of the throws, the strike throwing has been much better. So I think those are real steps that [make] you believe it’s continuing to trend in a really positive direction.”
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) hits a two run single during the ninth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins on Monday, June 16, 2025 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla.
Whether or not Alcántara’s “swag” was on display Monday night is up for debate. By the end of the five innings he pitched, Alcántara allowed two runs and five hits, while notching five strikeouts.
He also became second all-time in strikeouts in Marlins history. With a four-seam fast ball to Turner in the fifth inning, he secured his 833rd strikeout, passing Josh Johnson.
“I feel very grateful and thankful to this organization for the opportunity that they gave me in 2018 when I came here for the first time,” Alcántara said after Monday night’s game. “But I don’t want to be second, you know, so I would love to be the number one. I mean, let’s see what happens– I’m just going to keep doing my best.”
The number one spot is currently held by Ricky Nolasco with 1,001 strikeouts.
Alcántara’s “solid” performance, according to McCullough, follows a two-game stretch where the Marlins ace looked close to his old self.
Against the Colorado Rockies on June 3, he allowed just one earned run across six innings, mixing in four strikeouts. He followed that up with an even sharper performance on June 10 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, tossing six scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks to earn his third win of the season.
Those two outings marked his strongest stretch of the year—offering a glimpse of the command that once defined him. Adding on his performance Monday, where he was only able to pitch five innings due to a staggering 25 foul balls from Philly, and his ERA for the past three games is a shining 2.12. Overall, however, it still remains at a whopping 6.88.
The last three games have also started a conversation about whether or not Alcántara’s time in Miami is coming to a close.
Rumors have emerged of teams “lurking” to pick up the right-handed pitcher who throws in the high 90’s, including the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The better he does and the more the Marlins can get for him, the more likely it is that Marlins fans may not see Alcántara at loanDepot park much longer.
Despite Alcántara’s mixed night on the mound, Monday’s game ultimately slipped away from the Marlins elsewhere.
Miami’s offense struggled to generate momentum against the Phillies’ starting pitcher Mick Abel, managing only two runs and five hits. The defense encountered trouble, as well, especially after Alcántara’s time on the mound. In the four innings he didn’t pitch, the Phillies scored three of their runs.
“We lost today, so that was the only thing that we don’t like,”Alcántara said. “But tomorrow, we’ve got another opportunity to battle out there and work.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ After the fourth inning, Dane Myers was pulled from the game for “discomfort” in his left elbow. He was hit by a pitch during the second inning. McCullough noted after the game they were monitoring “swelling” in the arm before they could say anything for certain.
Miami Marlins outfielder Dane Myers (54) dives for a ball and catches it during the first inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, June 16, 2025 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla.
▪ Tuesday’s game was originally scheduled for a first pitch at 6:40 p.m. est; however, the Marlins moved the game up to 6:10 p.m. so fans could catch the game and then “root on the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals later that night.”
▪ loanDepot park acquired the rights to host the international tournament Serie del Caribe (Caribbean Series) starting in 2028. Serie del Caribe features teams from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Mexico.
▪ Braxton Garrett began a throwing program Monday, as he works to recover from Tommy John surgery which took place earlier this year.
▪ Before Wednesday’s game, the Miami Marlins Foundation will host the annual Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids, including 40 participants from the City of Hialeah Parks, local ABA Centers of America, and the Miracle League. McCullough and Marlins players will help lead the clinic, which provides kids with physical and intellectual challenges the opportunity to improve their baseball skills.