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

Sandy Alcantara adds to impressive feat with latest dominant outing

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 9:00 AM ET

Former Cy Young Award winner and Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara has fully returned to form. In two starts, the two-time All-Star right-hander is 2-0 with 12 strikeouts and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 16.0 innings (leads MLB).

Sandy Alcantara’s injury hasn’t stopped him from finishing games for the Marlins

Despite missing the entire 2024 season with Tommy John surgery, Alcantara has the most complete games in baseball. Since the start of the 2022 season, Alcantara has as many complete games (10) as the Houston Astros (10), and two more than the Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants (eight).

The Philadelphia Phillies are the only team that has more complete games (11) than the 30-year-old. Alcantara has led MLB in complete games three times (2019, 2022, 2023). Of the 10 complete games he's thrown since 2022 (including Wednesday’s), three have been shutouts.

Sandy Alcantara adds on to a crazy number of complete games since 2023 pic.twitter.com/nOvhRIvGA6
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 2, 2026

Sandy Alcantara is increasing his trade value for the Marlins

The Marlins are a rebuilding franchise (141-183 in the last two seasons) and would benefit from trading Alcantara at this season's trade deadline. The Marlins tried to trade Alcantara last season, but held onto him after a disastrous first half in which he went 4-9 with a 7.22 ERA and 37 walks in 91.0 innings.

Despite not being his normal self in the first half, Alcantara turned things around after the All-Star break, posting a 7-3 record with a 3.33 ERA while posting fewer walks (20) in 83.2 innings.

Alcantara is under contract for this season and has a club option for $21 million in 2027. But with a potential work stoppage looming on the horizon, 2026 could be Alcantara’s “free agent year.” Given the possibility of a work stoppage, trading Alcantara this season while his value is increasing would benefit the Marlins in the long run.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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