Marlins vs Pirates Preview: Alcántara Looks to Spark Miami

The Marlins are bringing their ace to Pittsburgh, and Sandy Alcantara is on fire. He's got a 2-0 record with a microscopic 0.64 ERA this season. That means opponents barely score when this guy pitches. Alcantara's fastball is pure heat, and he pounds the strike zone with confidence. Miami has won five straight games and climbed to 34-35 on the season. The Pirates' lineup will face one of the most dominant arms stepping on the mound Friday night. When Alcantara is clicking like this, stopping him becomes nearly impossible.

The Pirates are sending Braxton Ashcraft to the mound to battle Alcantara. Pittsburgh sits at 35-33 and just grabbed a win to build momentum. The home crowd at PNC Park will pack the stadium to cheer on their squad. Pirates fans know their team can strike fast—they've got playmakers ready to attack. The pitching matchup will be tight and tense from the first pitch. Both teams need this win badly as they push deeper into June. One mistake could shift the whole game in a blink.

The Marlins are riding high right now. They've won five games straight and look completely different than they did weeks ago. That 8-2 record in their last ten games shows real growth and toughness. But the Pirates' home field is no joke. Playing at PNC Park means dealing with a fired-up crowd and a team fighting for every win. Miami's pitching staff is their secret weapon—if Alcantara delivers another masterclass, the Marlins could walk out victorious. This Friday night game could flip the entire series.