JUPITER, Fla. -- Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara will make his franchise-leading sixth Opening Day start, the organization announced on Friday afternoon on social media.
Miami will host Colorado at 7:10 p.m. ET on March 27 at loanDepot park.
“It couldn’t be more fitting Opening Day, that this season starts with you on the mound at home,” manager Clayton McCullough told Alcantara in the video. “No secret. You get that ball Opening Day. You deserve it. So Opening Day starter again. You deserve it. Friday at home against the Rockies at night. You got it for us, big boy.”
The Marlins have gone 2-3 in Opening Day starts made by Alcantara, who introduced a sweeper to his arsenal during Thursday’s live batting practice. Last season in his return from Tommy John surgery, Alcantara took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before being chased after giving up two runs. Miami would go on to walk off Pittsburgh in the ninth.
Trade rumors have followed Alcantara over the past year, but the Marlins elected to keep him. Instead, Miami dealt Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers from its starting-pitching depth over the offseason.
“Thank you, sir,” Alcantara said in the video. “I came here with the mentality to compete like always for a spot No. 1, No. 2, whatever. Super excited about another opportunity to be on the mound for the Marlins, and I’m very happy.”
Alcantara will leave Marlins camp in a few weeks to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic for the second time.