Sandy Alcantara’s final turn in the Marlins’ rotation will stay empty this Saturday at loanDepot park, a workload decision that Miami insists has nothing to do with an injury.
Manager Clayton McCullough said Alcantara is healthy and feeling strong, but the club is taking the long view after a season in which its ace has again carried a heavy share of the innings. Miami has not yet named a Saturday starter against the Braves.
Why Miami is holding Alcantara back
- Alcantara missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, a process McCullough said demanded substantial physical and mental energy.
- During his 2025 return, the right-hander did not fully regain his form until the final two months. He logged 174 2/3 innings, the lowest total of any of his full Major League seasons, and finished with a career-high 5.36 ERA.
- His 2026 calendar began with three innings in one World Baseball Classic appearance, followed by 12 2/3 innings across four Spring Training starts.
- Alcantara then shouldered 33 starts and 213 innings for Miami, both Major League highs, while his 21 quality starts rank second in the Majors.
- The Marlins also used him on regular rest later in the summer as they tried to remain in the race, adding to the responsibility on a pitcher coming off a long rehabilitation.
“Think about the last two and a half years for this guy,” McCullough said. “There was the Tommy John surgery, all the rehab, and the mental and physical work that goes with it. We used him on regular rest late in the summer because we wanted him on the mound as often as possible while we were trying to stay in it.”
The decision does not necessarily mean Alcantara is done pitching this weekend. McCullough said the right-hander could be available from the bullpen against Atlanta, an idea Alcantara raised himself. It would not be a planned four- or five-inning relief assignment, however.
There is recent evidence that Alcantara can step into a shorter role. He earned the second save of his career in Wednesday night’s win over the Cubs, and both of his career saves have come during this three-city road trip.
Rotation plans for the Braves series
| Game | Scheduled Marlins starter |
|---|---|
| Friday series opener | Eury Pérez |
| Saturday | To be determined |
| Sunday season finale | Janson Junk |
Pérez, a right-hander, made his season debut out of the bullpen in Tuesday’s victory. Junk, also a right-hander, is set for Sunday’s regular-season finale.
A breather, not a warning sign
McCullough acknowledged that using Alcantara in relief after skipping his start could look contradictory. But he drew a sharp distinction between the demands of a bullpen appearance and preparing to start, work deep into a game and navigate roughly 100 pitches.
“Getting ready for a Major League start and battling through 100 pitches takes a lot physically and mentally,” McCullough said. “He’s been doing that. I just don’t think he has had much of a break.”
Miami’s manager stressed that Alcantara’s arm is sound. His velocity looked strong again in Chicago, and McCullough said there is “nothing wrong with Sandy.” The club’s concern is protecting a pitcher it expects to lean on again in 2027, when Alcantara will be asked to take the ball often and cover plenty of innings.
