Miami Marlins: 3 Opening Day Staring Pitching Options
The Frontrunner: Sandy Alcantara
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Mr. Reliable, Sandy Alcantara, appears to have a leg up in the race to be named opening day starter for the Miami Marlins. Alcantara made a team-high 32 starts and pitched a team high197 innings last year. He was selected as the Marlins representative to the All-Star team and finished the campaign with a 6-14 record with a 3.88 earned run average.
Alcantara has always had issues with finding the strike zone. If he can lower his walk rate he would be more of an effective starter. The free passes are coming back to haunt Alcantara, especially with two outs. Batters are hitting .280 against him with two outs and runners in scoring position. He did lead the league with two complete-game shutouts and gave up one run or less in nine other starts.
Alcantara debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017 before being shipped to the Marlins in the Marcel Ozuna trade. In 2018 Alcantara began at AAA and was 6-3 with a 3.90 ERA before being summoned to the majors where he made six starts.
Thus far this spring Alcantara has started two games and been hit hard when he has gotten the ball over the plate. In 3.2 IP Alcantara has given up seven hits and walked seven hitters, against just one strikeout. Barring any injury, this spring Alcantara is the likely starter who gets honors on opening day.