Finding form, Marlins' Sandy Alcantara aims to stifle Phillies

The Miami Marlins certainly are enjoying Sandy Alcantara's resurgence, and the former National League Cy Young Award winner hopes to deliver another strong outing Saturday afternoon when his team hosts the Philadelphia Phillies.

After missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery in October of the previous year, Alcantara (8-11, 5.66 ERA) is in the midst of a challenging campaign. Even his first two starts of August were rough, as he allowed 11 runs in 12 innings.

However, the right-hander has flipped the switch during his past four starts. He has a 1.67 ERA over that stretch and has worked seven innings in each of his past three outings. His fastball touched 100 mph on Sunday in a 5-1 win over the New York Mets.

"After losing close to two years, coming back was hard," Alcantara said. "I think I was thinking too much, and I was getting tired quickly. After the second half (of the season began), my arm started reacting to the game. Everything has turned out great now."

Alcantara has faced the Phillies twice this season, allowing six runs in two innings on April 18 and two runs in five innings on June 16. He was tagged with a loss in both games.

For his career, Alcantara is 6-10 with a 3.78 ERA in 21 appearances against Philadelphia.

He'll oppose former teammate Jesus Luzardo (12-6, 4.05), who has faced Miami twice this season. The right-hander gave up two runs (one earned) in seven innings yet walked away with a no decision in a 7-5, 10-inning game on April 20. He then yielded four runs in five frames when the teams reconvened on June 17, taking an 8-3 loss.

Luzardo's most recent outing was a crisp performance against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. He gave up two hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 scoreless innings but didn't figure into the decision of a 3-1 loss.

"(The key was) just establishing the fastball," Luzardo said. "I had good command of it today, which was good. Just filling up the strike zone for the most part, as me and J.T. (Realmuto) had a good plan out there. Just trying to keep them off balance as much as possible."

Luzardo certainly would love to receive four home runs of support, as Cristopher Sanchez did in Friday's 9-3 victory over the Marlins. Sanchez didn't need much help, as he yielded only one run in seven innings, but all three outfielders homered for him, as did second baseman Bryson Stott.

Trea Turner added four hits for Philadelphia (82-59), the National League East leader, but the focus after the game was on the team's new-look outfield setup, which has landed Nick Castellanos on the bench against right-handed starters.

"I think (it's been) great," Max Kepler said of the outfield platoon. "Everyone's jelling together and stringing together good at-bats, playing solid defense, and most importantly, just having fun."

The highlight for Miami (65-76) was Brian Navarreto hitting his first career home run in his first major league at-bat in more than five years. He played in two games with the Marlins in 2020 and had been in the minors since.

"It was an amazing moment for me and my family as well," Navarreto said. "It's been a long road, and I didn't take it for granted. I just tried to enjoy the moment the most I can, and it happened. I was so happy, not only for me, but for my family."

--Field Level Media