SANDY ALCANTARA

Alcantara needed 43 pitches to get through the first two innings and 57 for innings three through eight.

Logan Gilbert kept up his run of impressive starts, Julio Rodríguez hit his first major league homer and the Seattle Mariners ended Miami’s seven-game winning streak, beating the Marlins 7-3.

Sandy Alcantara gave up one run and six hits over six innings to earn the win.

As they wait for star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to return from knee surgery, the World Series champion Atlanta Braves are off to a slow start at 7-10.

Garrett Cooper hit his first home run of the year for Miami.

Francisco Lindor wasn’t the franchise-altering shortstop the New York Mets were hoping for last season.

Javier Báez agreed to bring his high motor to the Motor City, while other teams around the majors raced to finish up business before Tuesday’s deadline to tender contracts and a likely roster freeze coming when baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires Wednesday.

Wendle was an All-Star for the Rays last season, hitting .265 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI, 31 doubles and four triples.

The Marlins are keeping their ace.

The Atlanta Braves have captured their fourth straight NL East championship.

The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their second straight AL East title, with Mike Zunino hitting a go-ahead homer and Brandon Lowe later adding a pair of RBI doubles to beat the Miami Marlins 7-3.

Alcantara was perfect through five innings but Keibert Ruiz reached on second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s error to open the sixth.

Miami Marlins leadoff batter Miguel Rojas and New York Mets counterpart Jonathan Villar each homered on the first pitch they saw Thursday night, the first time that’s happened in a major league game since at least 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara allowed three runs and six hits in six-plus innings.

After a historic June homer binge, Kyle Schwarber’s July got off to a less promising start.

Marlins starter Pablo López was ejected after plunking Ronald Acuña Jr. with his first pitch, leading to the only run as the Atlanta Braves edged Miami 1-0.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara stymied the Blue Jays, throwing only 86 pitches over eight innings.

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom’s shoulder showed no abnormalities, but the team wasn't ready to commit to him taking his next turn in the rotation.

The Cardinals went 6-0 against Miami this year for their first season sweep over the Marlins.

Miami starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara gave up one run and six hits, striking out six over eight innings.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. keyed a career-best four-hit outing with his major league-leading 17th home run and the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated the return to their temporary Buffalo home with a 5-1 win over the Miami Marlins.

The Baltimore Orioles have lost 14 straight games, the worst skid in the majors since Houston dropped 15 in a row in 2013.

Playing their first game in a rejuvenated Fenway Park since the state dropped limits on crowds during the coronavirus pandemic, Nathan Eovaldi went 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Miami Marlins 3-1.

Miami’s Sandy Alcantara allowed only two hits in eight innings.

Miguel Rojas added a solo home run for the Marlins, his third dinger of the season.

Max Scherzer pitched a five-hitter, Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals defeated the Miami Marlins 3-1.

Marcus Stroman was unhappy that the New York Mets began their game against the Miami Marlins in a steady rain, and he lasted just nine pitches before play was stopped.

Alcantara tied a career high with 10 strikeouts in the first five innings, shutting out the Cardinals on two hits.

The starting pitchers, Sandy Alcantara for the Marlins and Tyler Glasnow for Tampa Bay, both threw six shutout innings.

SETBACK IN THE BULLPENBlue Jays right-hander Kirby Yates will miss several weeks because of a strained muscle in his forearm. He allowed one run and five hits, striking out five without a walk. Ross Stripling struck out seven and walked none in 3 2/3 innings, but gave up three runs and five hits. Bryan Abreu, a top Astros pitching prospect who turns 24 next month, started and pitched three perfect innings, striking out four. Baltimore starter John Means allowed four hits and walked three over 3 2/3 innings, striking out three.

Bauer wound up pitching three scoreless innings with the creative approach, striking out three while allowing two hits and a walk. Known for speaking his mind and going his own way, Bauer said he regularly shuts one eye during bullpen sessions and other workouts. METS 6, ASTROS 1 (6)Jacob deGrom pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut, striking out three and allowing one hit. AdBLUE JAYS 7, PHILLIES 1 (7)Newcomer Tanner Roark made his first start for Toronto, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings. Jorge López threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:STANTON'S STREAKYankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has homered in all four of the team's postseason games this year. The two-time NL home run champion is from the Los Angeles area and says “that SoCal air" is helping the ball fly. If the Dodgers advance to the NL Championship Series or World Series, fans will be allowed at those games. “At this point I think we’ve grown accustomed to it.”Alcantara insisted he didn’t intend to hit Acuña and that Miami’s game plan is simply to pitch inside to him. Springer’s 17 postseason homers tied Nelson Cruz and Jim Thome for most through a player’s first 54 postseason games.

And another hit — once more by the Marlins, this time with Sandy Alcantara's fastball to the left hip — fired up the Braves and fueled their comeback in a 9-5 win Tuesday. “I think it woke us up,” said Travis d’Arnaud, who launched a tiebreaking homer during Atlanta’s six-run rally in the seventh inning . Braves manager Brian Snitker said that even though he didn’t believe this pitch was on purpose, the Marlins have hit Acuña far too many times. The Braves trailed 4-3 in the seventh before Austin Riley and Acuña hit consecutive singles with no outs to chase Alcantara. UP NEXTRight-hander Pablo Lopez will make his postseason debut when he starts for the Marlins in Game 2 against Ian Anderson.

He’ll surpass Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, who was nearly 22 when he started Game 4 of the 1950 World Series against the Phillies, as the youngest postseason starter for New York. LONG AND SHORTCarlos Correa and the Houston Astros look to grab a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Division Series against AL West champion Oakland. The Padres hadn't said whether starters Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger will be healthy enough to crack their NL Division Series roster and pitch against the Dodgers. BRAVE NEW WORLDThe Braves are back in the NL Division Series for a third straight year but haven’t advanced to the NL Championship Series since 2001. They’re hoping they can hold off the upstart Marlins, who have never lost a postseason series.

Members of the Miami Marlins celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of a National League wild-card baseball series Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. The Marlins won the series 2-0 to advance to the division series. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)MIAMI – Their T-shirts say Bottom Feeders, even though the Miami Marlins are showing they’re a different kind of fish in 2020 — the sort that rises to make a splash. After holding the Cubs to one run and nine hits in two games, the Marlins posed for a team photo in the Wrigley Field infield. They are young and inexperienced, but it's just baseball.”And the Marlins are getting better at it.

CHICAGO – The Miami Marlins just kept fighting. Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer off a fading Hendricks in the seventh inning, and Miami beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Wednesday in Game 1 of their NL wild-card series. The Marlins, who rallied past the Cubs in a memorable NLCS that year, have never lost a playoff series. Yu Darvish starts for the Central champion Cubs, and rookie right-hander Sixto Sánchez get the ball for upstart Miami. “It’s going to be great.”Darvish is making his first playoff appearance since signing with Chicago before the 2018 season.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO – The Miami Marlins just kept fighting. Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer off a fading Hendricks in the seventh inning, and Miami beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Wednesday in Game 1 of their NL wild-card series. The Marlins, who rallied past the Cubs in a memorable NLCS that year, have never lost a playoff series. Yu Darvish starts for the Central champion Cubs, and rookie right-hander Sixto Sánchez get the ball for upstart Miami. “It’s going to be great.”Darvish is making his first playoff appearance since signing with Chicago before the 2018 season.

(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:___CRAZY EIGHTHow’s this for wild: MLB is set to stage eight postseason games on the same day for the first time. National League clubs will open their best-of-three wild-card series, while four American League teams are already facing elimination after starting Tuesday. With the expansion of the first round from a pair of wild-card games to eight best-of-three series, there are a maximum 65 possible postseason games this year. In the 1960s, there were 66 postseason games in the entire decade, with league championship series starting in 1969. Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 1.99 ERA) starts Game 2 following a successful first season with Chicago.

Blue Jays players embraced on the diamond at their temporary home of Sahlen Field in Buffalo after Rafael Dolis struck out Aaron Hicks to end it. The Blue Jays trail the Yankees by two games for second place in the AL East. The Blue Jays extended their lead when Cavan Biggio and Bo BIchette hit back-to-back, two-out doubles in the third. TRAINER’S ROOMBlue Jays: RHP Nate Pearson (elbow) was activated off the injured list and RHP Wilmer Font was designated for assignment. Blue Jays: RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.86) starts Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Baltimore.

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)ATLANTA Adam Duvall drove in nine runs with three homers, including a grand slam, and the Atlanta Braves obliterated their franchise scoring record in a 29-9 romp over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night. The Braves had 23 hits, including seven homers, to score the most runs in their history in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. The old Atlanta record was 20 runs, most recently against the Marlins on Oct. 5, 2001. Freeman hit second, d'Arnaud hit fourth and Albies hit eighth. Marlins second baseman Isan Daz was optioned to the teams alternate training site in Jupiter, Florida.

The San Diego Padres acquired the reliever from Kansas City on Saturday for outfielder Edward Olivares and a player to be named. The 30-year-old Rosenthal has a 3.29 ERA and seven saves after struggling with injuries and poor performance in recent years. The Mets plan to start righty Rick Porcello (1-4, 6.43 ERA) and converted closer Seth Lugo (1-2, 2.03). That year, he became the only player to hit for the cycle in a postseason game. They made the move with infielder Starlin Castro expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken wrist.

(AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)A look at what's happening around the majors on Monday:WAIT AND SEEThe Cincinnati Reds will wait for their latest COVID-19 test results to see when they can resume the season. Cincinnati had home games against Pittsburgh postponed Saturday and Sunday after a player tested positive. Cincinnati is the third team to have games postponed because one of its players tested positive for COVID-19, joining the Marlins and the Cardinals. Chapman tested positive for the coronavirus during preseason workouts and hasnt pitched yet this season. AILINGBlue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is on the injured list, interrupting his big-hitting season.

MIAMI Scrambling for replacements following a coronavirus outbreak, the Miami Marlins added a Moran, a Morin, two pitchers named Josh Smith and a former Olympic medalist in speedskating. The Marlins' revamped pitching staff includes right-hander Mike Morin and left-hander Brian Moran, and right-hander Josh A. Smith and left-hander Josh D. Smith, all recently acquired veterans. Replacements included seven newly acquired players, and 11 players from the team's alternate training site. The virus infected 21 members of the Marlins' traveling party and forced the suspension of their season July 26 after just three games. We expect to win games, Hill said.

PHILADELPHIA Jesus Aguilar helped put the Miami Marlins in unfamiliar territory. Aguilar hit a two-run homer off Aaron Nola, Sandy Alcantara pitched neatly into the seventh and the Marlins beat the Phillies 5-2 Friday night, spoiling manager Joe Girardis first game in Philadelphia. The Marlins opened a shortened season delayed by the coronavirus by picking up where they left off last year against the Phillies. The Marlins have never led the division beyond June 30 and twice won the World Series as a wild-card team. Villars sacrifice fly gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the third.

Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals at Marlins Park on September 8, 2019. MIAMI - Sandy Alcantara became the first Marlins pitcher with two shutouts in his rookie season since Dontrelle Willis, and Miami beat the Kansas City Royals 9-0 Sunday. Willis had two shutouts while winning Rookie of the Year in 2003. Marlins: RHP Jordan Yamamoto (forearm) is looking to make his return to the mound before the season ends. Marlins: RHP Robert Dugger (0-1, 4.00) opens a four-game home series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday with his fourth start of the season.

Adalberto Mondesi #27 of the Kansas City Royals steals second base in the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 7, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)Ryan McBroom doubled twice and had three RBI to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Miami Marlins 7-2 on Saturday night. Dozier's single with the bases loaded off Stanek put the Royals ahead 2-1 and Alex Gordon's bases loaded increased Kansas City's advantage. Harold Ramirez's one-out single off Royals reliever Jacob Barnes in the eighth got Miami to within 6-2. Smith pitched six shutout innings, allowed four hits, struck out eight and walked two.

Jose Urena pitched a perfect 10th for his first save of the season and second of his career. Frazier led off the first inning with a home run, drove in three runs and had three of the Pirates' four hits. Pirates rookie right-hander Mitch Keller left the game in the second inning when he sustained a bruised right wrist when struck by Cooper's line comebacker. The Marlins had pulled ahead in the top of the inning on Cooper's RBI double to deep center field. INSTANT OFFENSEFrazier's leadoff blast marked the fourth time in five games the Pirates started a game with a home run.

Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on August 22, 2019. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)ATLANTA - Ronald Acua Jr. hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves won their fifth straight game, finishing off the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Thursday night. Adeiny Hechavarra opened the Atlanta ninth with a double and later scored on Acua's single off Ryne Stanek (0-3). Braves starter Mike Soroka hasn't won a decision in seven straight starts. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara gave up Hechavarra's RBI single in the second, and allowed three hits overall in seven innings.

Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 16, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)DENVER - Jon Gray struck out seven in eight strong innings and Nolan Arenado and Ryan McMahon homered for the second straight game, leading the Colorado Rockies to a 3-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night. He threw 100 pitches and was an inning short of the second complete game of his career. Miami's Sandy Alcantara (4-11) was nearly as good, going seven innings and allowing just three hits. UP NEXTMiami will send RHP Hector Noesi (0-2, 8.18) against Colorado RHP German Marquez (11-5, 4.57) in the second game of the weekend series on Saturday night.

The Marlins will meet the Mets for a three-game series in Puerto Rico next April. MIAMI - The Miami Marlins will host the New York Mets in a three-game series in Puerto Rico next season. "It is an honor for the Marlins to represent Major League Baseball in this special series against the Mets," Marlins owner Derek Jeter said. "Miami serves as the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America, and we are grateful for the chance to showcase the new Miami Marlins organization to our neighbors in Puerto Rico." Both teams played a three-game series in Puerto Rico in 2010.