Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Sandy Alcantara calls out Marlins manager after costly decision

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 10:39 AM ET

Fresh off his first shutout of the season, Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara was feeling himself again on Tuesday night.

The former Cy Young winner was spotless through the first eight innings, needing only 82 pitches to tame the Cincinnati Reds offense.

Then, as he was sitting on a 24-inning scoreless streak to start the season, things got a little messy. Up 2-0 in the ninth, he gave up a one-out double to Matt McLain and walked Elly De La Cruz, so manager Clayton McCullough pulled him at 95 pitches.

The Reds ultimately tied and won the game in extra innings, and Alcantara was far from satisfied with his manager's decision.

Sandy Alcantara didn't like being taken out of the game

"I feel like I deserve to be asked how I feel before getting taken out of the game. This an area where I get to 95 pitches and a righty on deck, it is what it is. Just got to get ready for my next outing," Alcantara said postgame, per Marlins reporter Kevin Barral.

Sandy Alcantara following the game.#Marlins pic.twitter.com/Kk7kRudwVU
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) April 8, 2026

While he acknowledges that he has no control over whether he can stay in the game or not, he would've appreciated an opportunity to share his input before being taken out of the game.

"I’m just a player. I understand there’s a decision that you cannot control. It just happened," added Alcantara. "I think next time they have to make sure to ask me before taking me out of the game."

Alcantara left the mound with just three hits, two earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He boasts a 0.74 ERA through 24.1 innings of work and is one of the most obvious way-too-early Cy Young candidates. He's also in the final year of his contract before his club option for the 2027 season, so he'll be a name to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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