Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
A familiar thing happened in Miami on Tuesday: Sandy Alcantara pitched well, and the Marlins lost.
That’s a fairly unsurprising outcome for last-place Miami this season. The Marlins are toiling in the cellar of the National League East despite a pitching staff and defense that’s allowed the fourth-fewest runs in the league. That means Alcantara—the staff veteran despite being just 25 years old—has no shortage of unlucky rotation mates.
Alcantara, alongside fellow 25-year-old Pablo López and rookie Trevor Rogers, comprise perhaps the best trio of young arms the game has to offer.