There's Still an Ace Inside Sandy Alcantara: A Dominant Outing Against the Pirates Shows He's Not Done Just Yet

On Tuesday night, Sandy Alcantara reminded everyone why he's still the face of Miami's pitching staff. The right-hander tossed six dominant innings against the Pirates, allowing just three hits, one walk, and striking out six in a 3-2 win to even the series. He needed only 85 pitches to do it–his most efficient outing of the year by far.

This was vintage Sandy. His four-seam fastball and sinker both had extra life, touching 99 mph with late movement. The command was much better, and he was very competitive with all his pitches, especially with two strikes.

The fastball-sinker combo set the tone, but his changeup stole the show. It has great depth and arm-side fade, generating multiple swing-and-misses as well as a lot of weak contact. It looked the best it has all season.

He also worked in his slider and curveball more effectively than in recent outings. Both breaking pitches helped him navigate through Pittsburgh's lineup with multiple different pitch mixes. The full arsenal was working, and Alcantara finally had control of the pace of play.

Did Eury Perez's Return Light a Fire Under Sandy?

It's hard to ignore the timing. Just days after Eury Perez was reinserted into Miami's rotation, Alcantara came out with his most complete outing of 2025. Maybe it's a coincidence, but in baseball, competition often brings out the best in players.

Since 2023, Sandy hadn't consistently looked like the ace Miami fans remembered. The stuff was good, but the execution hadn't matched the reputation. With Perez bringing electricity back into the rotation, Alcantara may have felt the urge to raise the bar once again.

Tuesday's start wasn't just important for Sandy himself–it was also necessary for the Marlins to see a starting pitcher finally succeed. The Marlins have struggled to find consistency on the mound, and with Ryan Weathers now on the 60-day IL, Alcantara stepping up matters more than ever. For one night, he was exactly who Miami needed him to be.

Now comes the big question: does this make Peter Bendix more likely to trade him? On one hand, Sandy's value is trending up–contenders could line up quickly if he looks like this again. A few teams that could use a guy like Sandy: Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cleveland Guardians. On the other hand, trading a true ace on a team-friendly deal feels like giving up on your future before it's had a chance to come to fruition.

Alcantara is under contract through 2027 at just over $11 million per year—a bargain for a pitcher with frontline potential. If the Marlins are serious about building rather than tearing everything down, it may be wiser to hold onto Sandy for at least another season. If he continues trending upward, his trade value could rise even more, and Tuesday’s outing was a clear reminder of the ace-caliber impact he’s still capable of delivering.

Sandy Alcantara may not be completely off-limits in trade discussions, but he’s proving he should be a cornerstone for the Marlins, not the next player they shop around.