Sandy Alcantara Named Marlins' Opening Day Starter Against Pirates

Sandy Alcantara has been named the Miami Marlins' Opening Day starter for March 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking his return after missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. Manager Clayton McCullough expressed excitement for Alcantara's comeback, stating it was an easy decision given Alcantara's past performance, including winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2022. Alcantara, now over 16 months post-surgery, acknowledged the challenges of recovery but is eager to compete again. The Marlins are expected to monitor his workload carefully as they welcome other pitchers back from injuries, including Eury Pérez and new signing Cal Quantrill. While Alcantara's fantasy ranking may not reflect his pre-surgery prowess due to anticipated limitations on innings, his Opening Day start against the Pirates presents a promising opportunity. Overall, Alcantara's return brings optimism to the Marlins after a challenging 2024 season plagued by injuries to their pitching staff.