What we liked...and the other stuff

The best and worst of the Marlins' first homestand of 2023

As the Marlins hit the road for 6 against the Mets and Phillies beginning tomorrow, here’s a look back at their season-opening 3-4 homestand, which ended with back-to-back wins and a series victory against the Minnesota Twins.

WHAT WE LIKED

The TOP 2 in the Marlins rotation, Sandy Alcantara and Jesus Luzardo, dazzled in 2 starts apiece to open the year.

After an Opening Day no-decision against the Mets, Sandy fired a complete-game 3-hit shutout in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over the Twins. He completed the masterpiece in 1:57, needing only 100 pitches to carve up the Minnesota lineup.

Through 2 starts, he’s allowed a .130/.208/.130/.338 slashline with no extra-base hits surrendered in 14 2/3 innings.

If Sandy stays healthy, there’s no reason he can’t make a run at a 2nd consecutive Cy Young Award. The list of National League pitchers to win consecutive Cy Youngs since the award was first presented in 1956: Sandy Koufax (1965-66), Greg Maddux (4 in a row, 1992-95), Randy Johnson (4 in a row, 1999-2002), Tim Lincecum (2008-09), Clayton Kershaw (2013-14), Max Scherzer (2016-17) and Jacob deGrom 2018-19).