Marlins' Sandy Alcantara Faces Tigers' Tarik Skubal in Cy Young Showdown

Two-time defending AL Cy Young winner Skubal takes on 2022 NL Cy Young winner Alcantara in Sunday's series finale

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:03am

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A cubist-style painting depicting the pitching matchup between Sandy Alcantara and Tarik Skubal, with their forms fractured and abstracted into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.Two of baseball's elite pitchers face off in a high-stakes showdown that could shape the playoff picture.Today in Miami

The Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers will feature a marquee pitching matchup on Sunday as Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young winner, faces off against Tigers star Tarik Skubal, the two-time defending American League Cy Young champion. Both pitchers have gotten off to strong starts this season, setting the stage for an epic showdown between the two aces.

Why it matters

This game showcases two of the best pitchers in baseball today, with both Alcantara and Skubal establishing themselves as perennial Cy Young contenders. The outcome could have major implications for the playoff races in both the NL and AL, as the Marlins and Tigers look to gain ground on their division rivals.

The details

Alcantara, who missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, has returned to Cy Young form this year, going 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. He nearly threw back-to-back shutouts before falling two outs short in his last start. Skubal, meanwhile, is 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 17.2 innings, though he has won the AL pitching triple crown and posted a sub-2.50 ERA in each of the last two seasons.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 12:40 p.m. ET.
  • Alcantara is coming off a start where he fell two outs shy of back-to-back shutouts.
  • Skubal won the AL pitching triple crown in 2024 and had a 2.21 ERA last season.

The players

Sandy Alcantara

The Miami Marlins' ace pitcher and the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, who missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery but has returned to dominant form this year.

Tarik Skubal

The Detroit Tigers' star left-handed pitcher and the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner, known for his overpowering stuff and consistently low ERAs.

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What they’re saying

“Sandy Alcántara, Nasty 91mph Changeup. 👌”

— Rob Friedman, Pitching Analyst

What’s next

The outcome of this game could have major implications for the playoff races in both the National League and American League, as the Marlins and Tigers look to gain ground on their division rivals.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the best pitchers in baseball today is a must-watch event for any MLB fan, as it pits the reigning NL Cy Young winner against the two-time defending AL Cy Young champion in what promises to be an epic pitchers' duel.