Fresh off a dominant stretch at home, the Cy Young winner leads Miami against Baltimore as former Orioles Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers face their old club.
MIAMI — Coming off a four-game series loss at home, the Miami Marlins turn to their ace, Sandy Alcantara, in their opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night at loanDepot Park.
Alcantara will be making his third career start against the Orioles. He has split his first two outings against Baltimore, going 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA across 12 innings. He has allowed 14 hits -- including four home runs -- while striking out 10 and walking two in those appearances, both of which qualified as quality starts. Tuesday’s matchup marks his first time facing the Orioles in Miami.
His most recent outing against Baltimore came on July 14, 2023, at Camden Yards, when he took the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) over six innings in a 5-2 defeat. Alcantara allowed eight hits, including two home runs, while striking out five.
The right-hander enters Tuesday coming off a steady performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers last week. He did not factor into the decision, but limited the Dodgers to two earned runs over six innings in a 3-2 Marlins victory that secured the series.
Alcantara has been particularly effective at home this season. In four starts at loanDepot Park, he owns a 2-1 record with a 1.23 ERA, allowing just four earned runs over 29 1/3 innings. Opponents have managed only 14 hits and one home run against him in that span, while he has struck out 19. His home ERA ranks among the top three in the majors among qualified starters.
The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner continues to climb the Marlins’ all-time leaderboards. He ranks second in franchise history in strikeouts (962), starts (176) and innings pitched (1,114 1/3), trailing only Ricky Nolasco in each category. His 13 career complete games are the third-most in club history.
Miami’s lineup will feature a pair of players facing their former team in first baseman Connor Norby and left fielder Kyle Stowers, both acquired from Baltimore at the 2024 trade deadline. Stowers made headlines during last season’s trip to Baltimore, hitting three home runs in a single game one of just four such performances in Marlins history — while setting a franchise record with 16 total bases.
Norby, meanwhile, appeared in only one game during that series before being sidelined with left wrist inflammation.
The Marlins also bolstered their bullpen ahead of the series, recalling right-hander Will Kempner from Triple-A Jacksonville. The 24-year-old is expected to make his major league debut after posting strong strikeout numbers in the minors. He recorded 95 strikeouts across three levels in 2025 and has continued that pace this season, tallying 34 strikeouts in just over 15 innings at Triple-A.
Miami will look to lean on Alcantara’s consistency at home as it opens the series against a Baltimore club seeking to gain momentum early in the road trip.
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