Marlins Alcantara Set to Face Nationals on Tuesday

The Miami Marlins will send rookie pitcher Sandy Alcantara to the mound on Tuesday night for the team’s second game against the Washington Nationals.

Sandy Alcantara will look to do it again. The rookie pitcher has been exactly what the Miami Marlins hoped he would be since being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Sept. 1 as part of the MLB roster expansions. Alcantara will once again try to mow down his opponents as the Marlins host the Washington Nationals in the final outing of a two-game series.

Miami took the first game 8-5 in comeback fashion on Monday night.

If the Marlins aren’t ready to anoint the 22-year-old pitcher as their ace just yet, it might have something to do with the fact his sample size as a Major League flamethrower has been slight.

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He does have a 2-0 record in three starts for Miami, but he also missed valuable time on the bump because of injury.

He was sent to the minors to work on his control and consistency before rejoining the team. There are still concerns about the pitcher, but Alcantara has improved over the course of the season, on both the minor and major league levels.

In two seven-inning starts in September, he has allowed just two earned runs while striking out 12 batters.

He is considered the team’s No. 2 minor league prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

As his scouting report reads on MLB.com…

"“Alcantara’s velocity has increased in the last two years as he’s added good strength to his tall and wiry frame. He’ll frequently touch triple digits with his fastball and sits consistently in the 95-99 mph range with late movement.“He features a pair of breaking balls in a fringy curveball and a hard, mid-80s slider that is an above-average, swing-and-miss pitch at its best. Alcantara also will show flashes with an 88-91 mph changeup, a potentially average-or-better offering that plays up due to his fast arm but is lacking in overall consistency.”"

With the way Alcantara has been pitching this month and the uncertainty of veterans on the current staff, he could start 2019 as the No. 1 option in the rotation.

As if one hard-throwing pitcher wasn’t enough, the Nationals will counter with Stephen Strasburg, who has an 8-7 record this season. He has been as dominant as any pitcher has been facing the Marlins.

He has a 0.67 ERA in his last four starts against Miami.

Next. Marlins Get Boost From Youngsters in Win Over Nationals. dark

Alcantara was the main puzzle piece the St. Louis Cardinals sent to the Marlins in exchange for outfielder Marcell Ozuna before Spring Training. The deal also brought Magneuris Sierra, Zac Gallen, and Daniel Castano to South Florida.

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