The Miami Marlins head to Citi Field to take on the New York Mets on Sunday, August 2, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 PM ET. Sandy Alcantara gets the ball for Miami, squaring off against New York's Robert Stock in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup. The game airs on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia and CW 33 WBFS locally, with SNY carrying it on the Mets side. Miami fans can also tune in on WQAM 104.3 FM or WAQI 710 AM for Spanish-language coverage.

Sandy Alcantara Starts for Miami Against the Mets

Alcantara on the mound is always the headlining storyline when the Marlins take the field. The right-hander has been Miami's most valuable rotation piece, and every Alcantara start carries weight — this one no different. The Marlins will need him to go deep into this game, keep the pitch count manageable, and give the offense a chance to work against a Mets lineup that is loaded top to bottom.

On the New York side, Robert Stock draws the assignment. Stock is not a conventional rotation anchor, which means Miami's offense will want to attack early and often. Forcing Stock to work deep into counts and getting into the Mets bullpen could be a significant edge if the Marlins can capitalize.

New York Mets Starting Lineup

• A.J. Ewing — LF
• Francisco Lindor — SS
• Bo Bichette — 3B
• Carson Benge — RF
• Luis Robert Jr. — CF
• Jared Young — 1B
• Marcus Semien — 2B
• Jorge Polanco — DH
• Francisco Alvarez — C

Keys to Watch at Citi Field

The Mets lineup presents a legitimate challenge. Francisco Lindor batting second is dangerous in any count, and Bo Bichette sliding into the three-hole gives New York a high-contact threat that can make life difficult for any starter. Luis Robert Jr. in the five spot adds pop, and Francisco Alvarez behind the plate rounds out a lineup with no obvious soft spots.

Alcantara's ability to limit damage against the heart of that order — Lindor, Bichette, Benge — will be the central storyline on the pitching side. If he can keep the ball on the ground and avoid the big inning, Miami has a real shot at stealing a road win here.

On offense, the Marlins' lineup has not been released at time of publication, so the full picture of how Miami plans to attack Stock is still developing. What is clear is that the opportunity exists. Stock is not a frontline arm, and a disciplined Marlins approach — working counts, putting the ball in play — should open up chances to score.

Prediction

When Alcantara is right, the Marlins can beat anyone. This is a game Miami is capable of winning, and the matchup on paper favors a competitive, low-scoring affair. Expect Alcantara to go six or seven strong, and if the offense can scratch out two or three runs early against Stock, this one could turn into a road win. Marlins 3, Mets 2.