WASHINGTON — Sandy Alcantara is heading to the bereavement list and will miss his previously scheduled start for the Miami Marlins on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.
The Marlins placed Alcantara on the bereavement list ahead of their game Tuesday at Nationals Park. They did not specify why Alcantara is away from the team out of respect for the right-handed pitcher’s privacy. He will miss a minimum of three days and can stay on the list for a maximum of seven, according to MLB rules.
Alcantara’s absence has Miami down to just one starting pitcher left from its projected preseason rotation.
Alcantara’s departure comes three days after the Marlins placed fellow starting pitcher Pablo Lopez on the 10-day injured list with a right rotator cuff strain. Miami was already without rookie starting pitcher Sixto Sanchez, who has not pitched and will not pitch this season because of a shoulder injury, and pitcher Elieser Hernandez is also on the 60-day IL with a quadriceps strain, although he began his bullpen progression Friday and could return next month.
All-Star starting pitcher Trevor Rogers, who is the frontrunner for an MLB Rookie of the Year Award, is the only starter left from the opening-day rotation. He made his first start of the second half Tuesday in Washington.
While the Marlins sit firmly in the National League East cellar, Alcantara, Rogers and Lopez have formed one of MLB’s best top threes, with each posting an ERA better than 3.25. Alcantara, 25, currently brings up the rear at 3.23, but has pitched the third most innings in the NL this year and leads the Majors with 20 starts. Lopez has a 3.03 ERA and Rogers entered Tuesday with a 2.31 mark.
With Alcantara out, Miami called up relief pitcher Luis Madero from Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins moved middle infielder Jose Devers to the 60-day IL to make room for Madero on the 40-man roster.
Miami did not immediately announce a replacement for Alcantara on Wednesday, but Jordan Holloway could be an option. The rookie pitcher last appeared Friday, following Alcantara in the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies, and threw five shutout innings in the Marlins’ only win of the second half so far.
No matter what, it’s another major blow for Miami as it tumbles further and further out of the postseason hunt. The Marlins dropped four of their first five games after the All-Star break and list five major contributors in the first five days since the break.
On Friday, the Marlins placed rookie outfielder Jesus Sanchez on the COVID-related IL. On Saturday, they put Lopez on the IL with his shoulder injury. Miami lost both Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Garrett Cooper to left arm injuries Sunday, and placed both on the 10-day IL on Monday. On Tuesday, Alcantara left the team because of a personal matter, leaving the Marlins in an increasingly precarious situation as the July 30 trade deadline nears.
With Hernandez and Sanchez both sidelined, Miami was already typically piecing together at least one bullpen game per turn through the rotation. Now the Marlins will have to figure out another way to replace a former All-Star.
