Marlins Sandy Alcantara Can’t Find Control in Loss to Nats

For the second straight start, Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara struggles in a 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals.

Sandy Alcantara was all the rage with two straight wins and a fastball that was nearly unhittable. The last two starts, however, are something the rookie would rather not remember. The 22-year-old starter for the Miami Marlins could not find command of his pitches and was run early in a 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals.

The loss was the first of a three-game series in the nation’s capital. Alcantara once again has had issues with his pitches and consistency, something the team wanted him to work on in Triple-A at the beginning of the regular season.

Per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, Alcantara surrendered back-to-back homers to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto in a four-run fourth inning of a wet and soggy night on the road.

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The up and down return of Alcantara from both the disabled list and Triple-A New Orleans with the team’s roster expansion gives Marlins manager Don Mattingly something to think about as the team nears the end of the 2018 regular season.

"“It’s just like a little [wet],” Alcantara said. “But I got a good grip today. I was like a little out of control today, but next time I’ve got to keep doing the best, you know?”"

The Marlins hope to see that kind of improvement from their young starter. The organization’s No. 2 minor league prospect still has a legitimate shot to become the No. 1 starter in what figures to be a young rotation next season.

Right now, Jose Urena might be in the lead to become this staff’s ace. After a rocky start, he has found his rhythm again and is scheduled to make one more start this season on Friday. Urena has been as good as any pitcher in the Majors during the month of September.

But the focus now is on Alcantara and whether or not he can become a consistent starter, not a pitcher who works hot and cold and teases this organization with greatness.

The scouting report on Alcantara from the start of Spring Training has been he has added velocity to his pitches and can dominate at times, but has trouble with consistency and control. MLB Pipeline suggests he could make a solid closer in the future.

With the plethora of young pitching prospects in the Marlins organization, that might be a topic the team looks to in the future. For now, he could become a solid front-line starter.

This marked the second straight start batters got to Alcantara early. Last Tuesday at Marlins Park, the 23-year-old right-hander gave up three runs in four innings in a loss. It’s something manager Don Mattingly commented on when he met with the media after the game

"“Just didn’t seem to have command,” Mattingly said. “Trouble with command. Rough day.”"

Alcantara threw 84 pitches (51 strikes) — 22 two-seamers and 22 sinkers (or four-seamers), and had just six swinging strikes. He has to work on challenging batters more at the plate to get more outs.