Sandy Alcantara throws the first 'Maddux' of 2026 MLB season

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcantara-sandy/WGP5HYnA/"]Alcantara[/a], 30, tossed nine shutout innings, giving up just three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts on 93 pitches in what was his second start of the season. This also marked the veteran's fifth career shutout [/p][embed guid="a6a7e59c-43cb-421b-944c-4513cf7dc89b" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw8_Io_gzNI" social-type="youtube" /][p]For those new to baseball, a 'Maddux', named after Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, is when a starting pitcher tosses a complete game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches thrown.[/p][p]Alcantara, who is currently the longest tenured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/miami-marlins/ddxzWOqT/"]Marlins[/a] player, has now thrown 16 shutout innings to start the season with just seven hits, two walks, and 12 strikeouts as the Marlins improved to 5-1 to start the season for the first time since 2020. They now lead the National League East division. [/p][p]Before 2024, when he underwent Tommy John surgery, Alcantara led the entire league in complete games (six in 2022, three in 2023). After a down year last season, Alcantara has looked like a Cy Young candidate through his first two starts. [/p]