Marlins vs Giants Preview: Ace Alcántara Returns

The San Francisco Giants are riding a winning streak after crushing the Marlins 6-2 yesterday. Today, they'll take the field at Oracle Park hoping to stay hot. Landen Roupp takes the mound for the Giants, facing Miami's Max Meyer in what promises to be a pitcher's duel. Both teams depend heavily on strong starting pitching to compete. The Giants' offense will need to capitalize on scoring chances early. With several key players dealing with injuries, depth becomes crucial for San Francisco's success. This matchup tests whether yesterday's momentum carries into today's contest.

The Marlins lean heavily on their pitching depth to compete. Sandy Alcántara, their ace, once won a Cy Young Award but has battled injuries recently. When healthy, Alcántara dominates hitters with a powerful fastball and durability. Miami also trusts younger arms like Max Meyer, Eury Pérez, and Chris Paddack to provide stability. Pete Fairbanks handles closing duties and recorded 27 saves last season with a strong 2.83 ERA. These young pitchers represent the future of Miami's rotation. If Alcántara returns to form and the younger arms develop, the Marlins could become serious contenders.

Rafael Devers brings elite power to the Giants' lineup after leaving Boston. He hit about 35 home runs and drove in 109 runs during his time between both teams. Although his batting average dipped with San Francisco, Devers remains dangerous. Meanwhile, shortstop Willy Adames hit 30 home runs last season, proving he's a threat in the middle of the order. For Miami, young catcher Agustín Ramírez emerged as a cornerstone player, hitting 21 home runs last year at just 24 years old. Xavier Edwards brings speed and contact hitting to spark the Marlins' offense. Both teams rely on these talented performers to create scoring opportunities.