JOHN RODRIGUEZ
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Alcantara pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 2, 2022. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Sandy Alcantara is the NL CY Young despite recent struggles.
Sandy Alcantara is the NL CY Young despite recent struggles.
Despite hiccups against the Dodgers & Braves, Sandy still looms on top of the NL CY Young Award Race.
Written by John Rodriguez (@MarlinsJohn)
With just over 30 games remaining to the 2022 Miami Marlins major league campaign, the Marlins sit in 4th of the NL East with a 55-76 record. While having yet again another disappointing season, the silver lining to the season has been RHP Sandy Alcantara. Has risen above the starters since April and remained consistent in his performances. With many analysts and fans selecting Sandy as the favorite to win the NL Cy Young, Sandy is on pace to become the first Marlins franchise player to achieve such a prestigious award.
Sandy wrapped up the month of August with a 3-2 record, 2.72 ERA, 1.128 WHIP, 29 K in 36.1 IP. In those starts Sandy faced the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Sandy faced the Dodgers on August 21 in Dodger Stadium. It was Sandy's worst performance in his already impressive season. Sandy gave up 6 earned runs on 3.2 innings to the very established and star studded lineup of the Dodgers. He was able to bounce back his very next start against the Dodgers in Miami; throwing a complete game with 10 K, giving up one run in front of the home crowd in loanDepot Park.
After tossing his complete game against the Dodgers in Miami. Sandy pitched on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves. Braves bats got to him quickly as Sandy didn't look the vintage 2022 Sandy Alcantara we've been seeing since the beginning of the season. Question turned to if he was tipping pitches. Sandy tossed 5 Innings with 7 hits, 6 earned, 3 Ks, and the first time Sandy has given up 3 homers in a start this season. He was doing a good job holding down the Braves in his previous last two starts - one of which was a complete game. One thing Sandy has been able to show is his ability to recover quickly and make adjustments hence is what has made him the unstoppable and dominant pitcher he is today. Even after his two bad starts against Los Angeles and Atlanta, Sandy is still rocking a 2.36 ERA, 0.997 WHIP, 170 K, 190.2 Innings Pitched in 27 starts and 4 of those starts being complete games. The last pitchers to have as much or more goes back to 2017 with Ervin Santana of the Twins and Corey Kluber both tying with 5 complete games.
Other front runners for the NL Cy Young include Atlanta's Max Fried, Milwaukee's Corbin Burnes, Los Angeles' Julio Urias, and Arizona's Zac Gallen. However, none come close to the dominant numbers and performances that Sandy Alcantara has been able to produce this season for the fish. Sandy becoming the first Cy Young award winner would also be meaningful to the Miami Marlins franchise record books. Other pitchers who came close to the Cy Young award were Kevin Brown (1996), Dontrelle Willis (2005), and Josh Johnson (2010). Sandy Alcantara should not only be in conversation to win the Cy Young but also in the battle to win the NL Most Valuable Player award. Only player to do that was Giancarlo Stanton, after his historic last ride with the Marlins in 2017. Sandy's next start is scheduled against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, September 8 in Citizens Bank Park, hope is that he can rebound and make quick adjustments.
Sandy is showered in Gatorade by teammates after a complete game win against the Los Angeles Dodgers at loanDepot park on August 27, 2022 (Bryan Cereijo/Getty Images)
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