The Miami Marlins are making waves early in the 2026 MLB season, kicking things off with an impressive 5-1 record. Their latest triumph was a commanding 10-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park, where Sandy Alcantara stole the show.
Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Winner, delivered a masterclass on the mound, pitching a shutout and striking out seven. He allowed just three hits over 93 pitches, earning the first "Maddux" complete game of the season, a nod to the legendary Greg Maddux.
Despite this stellar performance, only 6,505 fans were there to witness Alcantara's 13th career complete game. Reflecting on the moment, Alcantara shared on Marlins Radio Network, "It's been a long time without throwing a complete game, but this one is so special for me.
All my family [was] here. Fans are not here, but we still love them."
His words had as much heat as his fastball.
Alcantara had already set the tone as the Marlins' Opening Day starter, leading them to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies. In that game, he pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing five hits, with a more robust crowd of 32,549 in attendance.
However, attendance has been inconsistent. After the opener, numbers dipped to 10,160 on Saturday and 17,355 on Sunday as the Marlins completed a sweep of the Rockies. During the series against the White Sox, attendance never exceeded 7,000.
Next up, the Marlins head to New York for the Yankees' home opener on April 3. Alcantara is set to pitch again on April 7 against the Cincinnati Reds. It’ll be interesting to see how many fans turn out at loanDepot Park to support their ace.