For the first time in quite a while, Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara saw his ERA rise over 2.00.
At the moment, it’s 2.19, and the increase is a direct result of facing the league’s top offense at their home over the weekend.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers scored six runs off Alcantara, who managed to stay in the mound for just 3.2 innings.
It was by far his shortest start of the year, beating the 4.2 inning outing he had against the San Diego Padres in late May.
“The Dodgers got Sandy Alcantara for 10 hits and six runs in 3.2 innings today. That is the most runs allowed, most hits allowed and fewest innings pitched by Alcantara in any start this year,” Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser tweeted.
The Dodgers got Sandy Alcantara for 10 hits and six runs in 3.2 innings today. That is the most runs allowed, most hits allowed and fewest innings pitched by Alcantara in any start this year.
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) August 21, 2022
The Dodgers Humbled Alcantara
Alcantara, arguably the top National League pitcher so far this year, was beat by the best team in baseball.
It happens sometimes: the Dodgers, as an organization, had a plan and stuck to it, chasing the star pitcher early in the game and inflicting a lot of damage on contact.
The 10 hits he conceded were also a season-high for the Cy Young candidate.
The New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies had shown recently that Alcantara, no matter how good he is (he is insanely good, in case you were wondering), is human.
Each team scored four runs off the righty in the last month.
Despite the stinker, Alcantara still leads MLB in innings pitched with 176.2 and has that incredible 2.19 ERA.
He still has a shot at finishing with a sub-2.00 ERA, but will need to return to his dominating ways for the rest of the year to do so.
It was a humbling experience for the ace, for sure, but he remains perhaps the most impressive hurler in the league.
