Sandy Alcantara continues to make history in 2026

MIAMI, FL - This time one year ago, it was assumed that the Miami Marlins would be trading franchise icon Sandy Alcantara at the trade deadline. Alcantara remained a Marlin through the trade deadline and offseason. One year later, he is setting franchise records. First, most strikeouts in franchise history, and on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, he set the record for most quality starts in franchise history (111). On top of that, the Marlins are now winners of back-to-back games, getting back to .500 with a 1-0 win.

"When I was a little kid, I wanted to play baseball, this was my dream," Alcantara said. "I'm here and I try to enjoy the moment and the opportunity. When I'm out there, I just want to go more than seven. That's what I always need to do, trying to give the team a chance to win the game. You guys can see every time I take the mound, it doesn't matter situation, if I am having bad day or good day, I just always compete out there."

Alcantara gave the Marlins seven shutout innings, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning. He also struck out five. Alcantara now has a 3.82 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 6.87 K/9 and 2.33 BB/9 in 23 starts this season.

The no-hitter for Alcantara was lost with two outs in the fifth inning when former Marlins Bryan De La Cruz knocked an infield base hit. It came down to a foot race between him and Alcantara to see who would reach the base first. De La Cruz just beat him out.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough and first baseman Kyle Stowers both sensed a different Alcantara coming into Tuesday's affair. McCullough said that he had "a real edge to him" while Stowers noted that his "breaking balls just looked like another level."

"It was a little different right out of the first inning with how he came out," McCullough said. "Other than the (Alec) Bohm walk on the three-two pitch, he was in and around the zone. Every pitch felt like it was competitive where they had to make a decision and how he moved the ball around through some really good sweepers. The cutter was a good pitch tonight, and certainly his fastball."

The biggest difference in 2026 is that Alcantara will very likely remain a Miami Marlin, not having to deal with the trade rumors. Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman told Fish On First that he is not getting traded. Alcantara has a $21 million club option for the 2027 season, though there's been no confirmation yet about whether that will be exercised.

On top of Alcantara's strong outing, Calvin Faucher and Pete Fairbanks, both of the team's struggling relievers, came out and handled Philadelphia six up and six down.

Faucher entered the game for the eighth inning, inducing three straight groundouts. For Faucher, this is now his fourth straight appearance where he has not allowed a run. Within that span, he's faced the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and now back-to-back outings against the Phillies. On the season, he has a 4.57 ERA, but a 3.27 FIP.

Fairbanks —the team's big free agent signing—has struggled this season, calling it "the most trying three-month stretch I've ever had in the game of baseball." On Tuesday, he worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, striking out both Bohm and Edmundo Sosa to notch his 14th save of the season.

"You're betting on the the talent, the track record and we need Pete to to be good and he knows that too." McCullough said. "Great for him to go out there and just have a really clean inning and move the ball around like he did. Drop his curveball in there and utilize the fastball well."

The lone run of the game came thanks to Kyle Stowers in the bottom of the first inning, hitting his 14th home run of the season off Phillies starter Aaron Nola. This marked Stowers' second home run of the homestand and is now slashing .235/.318/.450/.768 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI and a 107 wRC+.

With the win, the Marlins are back at an even .500, with a 54-54 record. They trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by two games for the third National League wild-card spot. Ryan Gusto will be the Marlins starting pitcher for the series finale Wednesday at 12:10 pm EST.