MIAMI — The Miami Marlins (16-19) open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (15-20) on Tuesday night at loanDepot park. Sandy Alcántara takes the ball against Chris Bassitt. First pitch is 6:40 p.m. ET. The rotation resets to the front. The schedule, for one week, becomes the right schedule.
Miami arrives off a 1-0 loss to the Phillies on Monday — Bryce Harper homer, Aaron Nola six scoreless, an announced crowd of 7,626 at loanDepot, Janson Junk doing everything you could ask of a starter and getting nothing for it. Philadelphia took three of four. Baltimore arrives off worse. Four games in the Bronx. Four losses. 12-1, 11-3, 9-4, 7-2 — outscored 39-10 in a single weekend by the team Miami sees the week after this. The Orioles are 4th in the AL East, nine games back, walking into loanDepot with a closer on the IL, two starters on the IL, and a $18.5 million free agent on the bump for Game 1 trying to find a reset button.
This is the right opponent at the right time. Sandy gets the ball.
How to Watch — Orioles at Marlins, Three Games
- Matchup: Baltimore Orioles (15-20) at Miami Marlins (16-19) · Three-game series
- Tuesday May 5 · 6:40 PM ET · loanDepot park, Miami
- Wednesday May 6 · 6:40 PM ET
- Thursday May 7 · 6:40 PM ET
- TV: Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia (Miami regional) · MASN (Baltimore regional)
- Streaming: MLB.TV · Fubo
- Radio: WQAM 104.3 (English, Miami) · WAQI 710 AM (Spanish, Miami) · 98 Rock 97.9 FM (English, Baltimore) · WBAL 1090 AM (Baltimore)
The Three Starts
Tuesday — Sandy Alcántara (3-2, 3.04 ERA, 31 K) vs. Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.46 ERA, 17 K)
Alcántara enters the start at 3-2 with a 3.04 ERA across seven outings. The Dominican right-hander threw six innings against the Dodgers in his last start, allowing two runs on seven hits — a strong outing that produced no decision because the Marlins offense produced one run behind him. The work has been steady all month. Sandy on the mound is the day Miami is supposed to win.
Bassitt is the more layered story. The 37-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $18.5 million contract with Baltimore in February after spending three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched in Game 1 of the 2025 World Series — out of the bullpen, after Toronto used him as a multi-inning postseason weapon — and watched the Dodgers win it in seven. He came to Baltimore to chase the ring he didn’t get in Toronto. The early returns have not matched the contract: 2-2, 5.46 ERA, 17 strikeouts in his first six starts. There is a personal subplot here. Bassitt and Pete Alonso were teammates with the Mets and remain close friends. Bassitt told reporters in February that “one of the big reasons why I came here was Pete.” Now Alonso steps to the plate in Marlins orange against him for the first time in this rivalry.
Bassitt’s last start was actually his best of the year — 6⅔ innings, one run, seven strikeouts against the Astros on April 30. He is on extra rest. Miami sees a version of him with a chance to find his footing.
Wednesday — Eury Pérez (2-3, 4.46 ERA, 39 K) vs. Brandon Young (2-1, 6.14 ERA, 9 K)
Eury Pérez, the 22-year-old Dominican right-hander born in Santiago, gets Wednesday. He is in his return season after Tommy John surgery and is still hunting the version of himself that struck out 100 batters in 91 innings as a 21-year-old in 2024. The 4.46 ERA is not what Miami signed up for. The 39 strikeouts in 38⅓ innings is exactly what Miami signed up for. The stuff is back. The command is the work in progress.
Brandon Young is a 27-year-old right-hander making his fourth big-league start of the season for Baltimore. The early returns: 2-1, 6.14 ERA, nine strikeouts. The Marlins lineup has the matchup history Miami wants to see — Otto Lopez is 1-for-2 with a homer (.500/2.500) against Young, Kyle Stowers is 3-for-3 with a homer (1.000/5.000), Pete Alonso is 3-for-4 with a homer (.750/2.417). That’s three Miami hitters with extra-base history against the Wednesday starter. Miami has every reason to attack early.
Trevor Rogers is on the 15-day IL with an undisclosed illness. Dean Kremer is on the 15-day IL with a quad strain. Whoever Baltimore runs out behind Young in the bullpen is a function of how the relief corps looks after the Bronx.
Thursday — Max Meyer (2-0, 2.68 ERA, 40 K) vs. Cade Povich (1-1, 4.41 ERA, 11 K)
The most interesting matchup of the series is the one nobody is talking about. Max Meyer takes the ball Thursday afternoon for Miami at 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA and 40 strikeouts — the best ERA in the Marlins rotation, the most strikeouts on the staff after Sandy, and a no-hit bid against the Phillies still fresh in the rear-view. Meyer has been the steady arm Miami needed in the back of the rotation while Sandy and Eury settled in.
Cade Povich is the 26-year-old Orioles left-hander who started Game 1 of the Bronx series last Friday and took the loss in Baltimore’s 7-2 defeat. He carries a 4.41 ERA into Thursday. Pete Alonso is 1-for-4 with a homer against him (.500/1.850) — the Bassitt-Alonso reunion subplot that opens the series extends to the back end of it. Different Orioles pitcher. Same Met-turned-Oriole-vs-friend-turned-rival rhythm.
The Catcher Carousel: Joe Mack Arrives
One Marlins development worth flagging before first pitch. Miami optioned Agustín Ramírez to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday and recalled Joe Mack — the 31st overall pick in the 2021 draft, a top-100 prospect on every list, and one of the better defensive catching prospects in the sport. Mack made his MLB debut Monday night and went 0-for-3 in the 1-0 loss to the Phillies. He is rated the No. 5 catching prospect in the major leagues. He is a left-handed bat. He is a defense-first catcher. He is the inverse of what Ramírez was, and the move is the front office acknowledging what the numbers said: Ramírez was the worst defensive catcher in baseball through the first month of the season, and Liam Hicks (.309, 7 HR, 29 RBI) had taken over the position by force of bat.
Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack throws a ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack (80) congratulates pitcher Lake Bachar (84) after he caught a bunt pop from Philadelphia Phillies’ Garrett Stubbs during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, left, talks with Miami Marlins 2021 draft pick Joe Mack, right, before a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
There is a baseball-history footnote that lands here. Don Mattingly was the Marlins manager who shook hands with Joe Mack on the loanDepot field in July 2021, the day after Miami drafted him 31st overall. Mattingly walked out of loanDepot Monday night as the Phillies’ interim manager. Mack walked out of loanDepot Monday night as a Major Leaguer. Five years between the two photos. Both at the same building.
Two International Projects, Two Different Stages
This is a baseball-without-borders series on both sides of the diamond. The Marlins and Orioles arrive at loanDepot park with international rosters that look very different from each other but were assembled with a similar philosophy — buy international, develop international, win international.
The Orioles — A Roster Built Through the World Baseball Classic
Baltimore had 13 players competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March across active rosters and Designated Pitcher Pools. That is the largest WBC contingent of any AL East team and one of the larger contingents in the sport. Here are the international players walking into loanDepot park this week.
?? Gunnar Henderson — Team USA, starting shortstop, 2026 WBC. The franchise. The 25-year-old shortstop wore the USA jersey as the starting shortstop in March, hit a home run in the WBC semifinal win over the Dominican Republic, and came back to Baltimore as the centerpiece of an Orioles team that is currently nine games back. He has nine home runs through 35 games. He is the version of “international identity” that the United States produces — a Selma, Alabama, kid who became Team USA’s shortstop. He’s the player the Orioles’ season turns on.
Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson (2) tags out New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
?? Samuel Basallo — Dominican Republic. The 21-year-old catcher from Santo Domingo, signed by Baltimore as an international free agent in 2021, is in his second MLB season after debuting last year. He’s a left-handed bat with power and a long-term piece. He’s hitting .240 in limited action this year while splitting catching time with Adley Rutschman.
Baltimore Orioles’ Samuel Basallo, bottom left, holds on for a double against Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
?? Leody Taveras — Dominican Republic. The switch-hitting outfielder from Puerto Plata, acquired from Texas in the offseason, is a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder who provides defense and speed at the top of the order. He is hitting .230 across 28 games.
Baltimore Orioles’ Leody Taveras runs home to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
?? Félix Bautista — Dominican Republic, on the 60-day injured list. The 6-foot-8 closer from Azua, Dominican Republic — the same Dominican town that produced Sandy Alcántara — is one of the most dominant relievers in baseball when healthy. He is currently on the 60-day with an injury that has cost him most of the season. The Orioles built their bullpen around him. He is the player Baltimore most needs back.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Félix Bautista throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Baltimore, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
?? Yaramil Hiraldo — Dominican Republic, on the 60-day injured list. The 30-year-old right-hander, from Santo Domingo, was Baltimore’s most-used reliever in 2025. He was a member of the Dominican Republic’s Designated Pitcher Pool at the 2026 WBC. Right shoulder inflammation has him on the 60-day.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Yaramil Hiraldo pitches against the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026 in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)
?? Yennier Cano — Cuba. The 32-year-old right-hander from Florida City via Pinar del Río pitched for Team Cuba at the 2026 WBC. He has been a fixture in the Orioles bullpen since 2023 and remains the most reliable arm in a bullpen that has been worked hard with Bautista down. He owns a 2.84 ERA across 17 appearances this year.
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Yennier Cano kisses a baseball before throwing during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
?? Jose Espada — Puerto Rico. The 29-year-old right-hander from Vega Baja pitched for Team Puerto Rico at the 2026 WBC. He has been on and off the active roster as the Orioles juggle bullpen depth. He has two scoreless big-league appearances on his ledger.
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Jose Espada delivers during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
?? Johnathan Rodríguez — Puerto Rico. The 26-year-old outfielder from Caguas, acquired from Cleveland in March for a minor leaguer, has bounced between Norfolk and the active roster.
Johnathan Rodríguez puts the Tides on the board with a solo home run! pic.twitter.com/WPGsDkjla4
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) May 3, 2026
?? Tyler O’Neill — Canada. The 31-year-old outfielder from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, played for Team Canada at the 2026 WBC. He is on the active roster after returning from a concussion on April 24. He has a long history of hitting Opening Day home runs and is the kind of veteran power bat the Orioles signed in the offseason to add to a young core.
Baltimore Orioles’ Tyler O’Neill reacts at second base after hitting for a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Plus Rico Garcia (Puerto Rico) and Albert Suárez (Venezuela) at the back end of the bullpen rotation. Adley Rutschman, the Team USA catcher, came off the IL on April 21.
The Marlins — A Roster That Is Currently Producing
For Miami, the spine is producing right now. Otto Lopez (Panama, .338) is leading the team in batting average. Xavier Edwards (Trinidad and Tobago, .333, two homers, 11 RBI) is leading the team in on-base percentage. Liam Hicks (Canada, .309, 7 HR, 29 RBI) is leading the team in home runs and RBI from the catcher position. Heriberto Hernández (Dominican Republic), signed off the scrap heap last November, has been the kind of low-cost find that defines a Marlins year. Javier Sanoja (Venezuela) has answered every question asked of him in April. Leo Jiménez (Panama), acquired from Toronto in March, has integrated into the infield rotation. Sandy Alcántara (Dominican Republic) takes the ball Tuesday looking like the version of himself the Marlins paid for when they signed him long-term. Eury Pérez (Dominican Republic) goes Wednesday. Max Meyer closes the series Thursday with the best ERA in the rotation.
The Marlins coaching staff also includes Pedro Guerrero (Dominican Republic, hitting coach) and Carson Vitale (Canada, bench coach). The Marlins’ international identity is not aspirational — it is the active engine of the team’s offensive numbers in 2026.
Marlins Math: A Note Before First Pitch
One frame to keep in mind across these three games. The Marlins are 16-19. They are 8.5 games out of first in the NL East. They are inside the wild card conversation by any honest accounting. The 2025 collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA expires after the 2026 season, and the work-stoppage possibility for 2027 is real enough that the trade deadline this July will move differently than it has in any year of the last decade. For a franchise with the Marlins’ history of fire sales, that calculation has to be re-examined — particularly in a season where the team is winning at a competitive enough rate to belong in the conversation. Sandy Alcántara’s name will be floated. It always is. The path to keeping him, and the path to building around him, runs through three games against the Orioles this week, the Athletics next, and the Yankees the week after.
The full Marlins Math column from Matt Tallarini — payroll, attendance, magic number, what the wild card actually means in this franchise’s hands — is forthcoming this week.
How Miami Wins. How Miami Loses.
How Miami wins: Sandy throws six innings Tuesday. Eury throws five Wednesday. Max Meyer keeps doing what he’s been doing Thursday. Hicks, Edwards, Lopez, and Stowers carry the offense as they have all month. Joe Mack catches a bullpen game and frames a tight zone behind a young arm. Sanoja, Marsee, and Morel deliver in the late innings. The bullpen — Faucher, Bender, Phillips closing-by-circumstance — keeps the leads. Pete Alonso goes 1-for-12 in the series against the Miami staff. The Marlins fly out of the homestand at 19-19, with the Athletics walking into a building where the home team is finally at .500.
How Miami loses: Bassitt finds his reset button. Henderson hits one. Cowser hits one. Mayo hits one. The Marlins offense runs into another version of the wall it hit against the Phillies. Sandy gets six innings of nothing behind him. The bullpen blows a one-run lead in the eighth. Miami leaves the homestand at 17-21 with the Athletics in town and the conversation around the franchise — payroll, deadline, what comes next — starting to take a different shape.
The Orioles are tired. They are wounded. They were just outscored 39-10 in four games. They are flying in from a stretch of baseball they will be glad to put behind them. This is the series. Sandy gets the ball. Don’t miss any of it.
— MT
Series at a Glance
- Tue 5/5 · 6:40 PM ET — Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.46) vs. Sandy Alcántara (3-2, 3.04) · loanDepot park
- Wed 5/6 · 6:40 PM ET — Brandon Young (2-1, 6.14) vs. Eury Pérez (2-3, 4.46)
- Thu 5/7 · 6:40 PM ET — Cade Povich (1-1, 4.41) vs. Max Meyer (2-0, 2.68)
Miami Marlins Files — Full Coverage
Marlins vs. Phillies Series Preview — Mattingly Returns to loanDepot · Marlins-Dodgers Rubber Match — Sandy vs. Glasnow · Marlins at Dodgers Series Preview · Marlins at Giants Preview · Cardinals Coming to Town · Junk and the Bullpen Three-Hit Cardinals · Eury Pérez Answers the Question · Marlins Punch First — MIA 10, ATL 4 · The Miami Marlins Are Winning. Nobody’s Been Told Yet. · Meet Leo Jiménez, Miami’s Newest Panamanian · Sandy Throws a Maddux — MIA 10, CHW 0 · Caissie Walk-Off Sweep — MIA 3-0 · Alcántara Dominates — Opening Day
Miami Files · Series Preview · World Baseball Network · Baseball Without Borders
