Astros vs. Marlins: Can Alcantara Silence Houston's Bats?

The Houston Astros (62-50) are set to clash with the Miami Marlins (55-55) in a three-game series starting Monday at 6:40 p.m. ET. All eyes are on the pitching matchup, with Sandy Alcantara taking the mound for the Marlins against Jason Alexander of the Astros.

Alcantara's Redemption Arc

Sandy Alcantara (6-9) is looking to continue his recent strong performances. In his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. This start marks his 22nd of the season. While his ERA sits at 6.36 with 81 strikeouts over 109 2/3 innings, Alcantara is aiming to build on a streak of two games without allowing an earned run. He's also seeking to extend an 11-game streak of pitching at least five innings per appearance, averaging 5.2 innings in those starts.

Astros' Offensive Challenge

Alcantara will face an Astros offense that ranks 18th in the league with 478 runs scored. Houston boasts a .256 batting average as a team and a .403 slugging percentage. The key for Alcantara will be to keep the Astros' hitters at bay and prevent them from stringing together hits.

Alexander's Opportunity

Jason Alexander (1-1) gets the nod for the Astros. He'll need to bring his best stuff against a Marlins team that recently swept the Yankees. This is a crucial series for both teams as they jockey for position in their respective leagues.

Keep an eye on this pitching duel as the Astros and Marlins battle it out in Miami!