Sandy Alcantara Aims to Rebound After Difficult May Performance

Sandy Alcantara, the Miami Marlins' ace pitcher, was in dire need of a solid performance, and he delivered on Monday night against the Washington Nationals, securing a quality start in a 7-3 victory. This win not only snapped a five-game losing streak for the Marlins but also provided a much-needed boost to Alcantara's diminished trade value.

Once considered a top candidate for a trade during the MLB deadline, Alcantara entered this game with a troubling May behind him. The 30-year-old right-hander had a rough stretch, allowing six or more earned runs in three out of five appearances last month, resulting in a dismal 7.39 earned-run average.

In his latest outing, Alcantara pitched seven innings and allowed just three earned runs, which was crucial for both his confidence and the Marlins’ management. General manager Gabe Kapler was undoubtedly hoping for a turnaround, as a continued slump would complicate any potential deals.

Prior to this game, Alcantara had struggled significantly, giving up 14 earned runs over his last two starts. His last appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 26 was particularly challenging, where he allowed eight runs. He opened May with a similarly tough outing against the Baltimore Orioles, conceding seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings.

In the game against the Nationals, Alcantara initially retired the first three batters before allowing a two-run homer to Jacob Young in the second inning. Despite falling behind 3-1 after the third inning, he regained his composure, retiring 12 of the last 14 batters he faced, improving his record to 4-4.