Reigning National League Cy Young winner was diagnosed with a UCL sprain earlier this month, but hes set to make a rehab start in Triple-A Jacksonville tonight, the team announced. Craig Mish of SportsGrid and the Miami Herald, who first reported that Alcantara would start in Jacksonville tonight, that Alcantara has had multiple pain-free bullpen se sions. If things go well in tonights rehab appearance, it would seem theres a real chance that Alcantara could return to the active roster before the end of the season. Its surely welcome news for Fish fans, though also perhaps the source of some trepidation. With any injury to the ulnar collateral ligament the ligament that is replaced in Tommy John surgery theres concern of a potential yearlong absence in a worst-case scenario. The majority of UCL injuries tend to result in surgery, though thats certainly not a universal outcome. , , and are among the pitchers who have been diagnosed with UCL injuries but avoided surgery. The 28-year-old Alcantara will hope to add his name to that list. Its been a tough year for the Miami ace so far. Alcantara has taken the ball 28 times and eaten up 184 2/3 innings, but his Brock Cunningham Jersey 4.14 ERA is nearly two full runs higher than the 2.28 mark that fueled last years Cy Young win. Alcantara hasnt experienced a velocity drop, but his strikeout rate, walk rate, ground-ball rate and home run rate are all worse than in 2022s career-best season. Hes also given up hard contact at higher levels. With Alcantara on the shelf, the Marlins have been using , , and the returning whod previously been optioned to the minors to monitor his workload as their regular starters. Reliever took the ball this past weekend, to sing 4 1/3 innings in his first start since early July. Miamis starter for tomorrows series opener against the Brewers is currently listed as TBD. The Marlins dont have any shot at winning the division. The Braves sport MLBs best record and clinched the NL East some time ago. However, Miami is only a half game out of the third Wild Card spot in the National League. Theyre trailing the Cubs for that spot and are one game up on the Reds in the standings. This weekends series against the Brewers is a tough task particularly with , and lined up to start for Milwaukee but the Fish close out the season with seven games against the Mets and Pirates, who currently share identical 71-81 records. The Cubs finish with three games in Atlanta and three in Milwaukee. The Reds final games will be against the Pirates, Guardians and Cardinals. Maraad Watson Jersey