Marlins shut down Cy Young front-runner Sandy Alcantara for rest of 2022

Officially eliminated from postseason contention, the Miami Marlins announced on Saturday that they're shutting down ace starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara for the remainder of the season. 

One of the favorites to win the National League Cy Young award, Alcantara was on pace to make at least one more start during the 2022 campaign, but the Marlins decided to err on the side of caution. 

"Organizationally, it just felt like there was no reason to have him continue with the innings that he's thrown this year," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters Saturday. 

Alcantara posted a career-high in innings pitched this season with 228.2, dwarfing his previous high of 205.2 in 2021. 

Mattingly said the team expects blowback regarding the decision, especially since Alcantara's final start of the year was scheduled to come against the Atlanta Braves on the last day of the season in a game that could have playoff implications. 

"We gotta take care of Sandy first," Mattingly said. "If it gets to that point, there's been 161 games to decide this thing - the last day is not our responsibility. We gotta do the best thing for Sandy." 

Alcantara finishes the year with a 14-9 record and a 2.28 ERA, second-best in the National League, behind only Los Angeles Dodgers starter Julio Urias (2.12). The 27-year-old leads the National League in innings pitched, starts (32), complete games (6), and pitcher WAR (7.9).

Currently, Alcantara (-4,500) is the odds-on favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, followed by Arizona Diamondbacks Zac Gallen (+2,000) and Urias (+2,500). 

If Alcantara captures the Cy Young Award, he'd be the first to win the honor in the Marlins' 29-year history.