The Miami Marlins host the New York Mets at loanDepot park on Tuesday, September 8, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET. Sandy Alcantara takes the hill for Miami opposite New York's Sean Manaea in what shapes up as a quality pitching matchup late in the regular season. With September baseball in full swing, every game carries weight in the standings, and the Marlins will look to take care of business in front of their home crowd in Little Havana.

Pitching Matchup: Sandy Alcantara vs. Sean Manaea

Sandy Alcantara is the story on the Miami side. The big right-hander is the unquestioned anchor of this rotation, and whenever he takes the mound at loanDepot park, the Marlins have a chance. Alcantara's ability to eat innings and generate weak contact gives Miami's bullpen a breather — something that matters enormously this time of year. His stuff is built for September: heavy sinker, sharp slider, the kind of command that keeps hitters off-balance deep into games.

For the Mets, Sean Manaea draws the assignment. The left-hander is a savvy veteran who works off his fastball-changeup combination and can keep lineups guessing with his deceptive delivery. He's the type of arm that can neutralize a lineup if he's locating, so the Marlins will need disciplined at-bats from the jump.

Miami Marlins Starting Lineup

• Heriberto Hernández — LF
• Otto Lopez — SS
• Agustín Ramírez — DH
• Javier Sanoja — 3B
• Esteury Ruiz — RF
• Deyvison De Los Santos — 1B
• Jakob Marsee — CF
• Jared Serna — 2B
• Brian Navarreto — C

Keys to Watch

Can the Marlins Make Manaea Work Early?

Heriberto Hernández leads off for Miami, with Otto Lopez slotting in second. Getting those two on base and forcing Manaea into deep counts early is the blueprint. If the Marlins can push his pitch count up in the first two innings, they open the door to the Mets bullpen by the fifth or sixth.

Alcantara's Command in the Strike Zone

The biggest key for Miami is straightforward: keep Alcantara sharp. When he's commanding both sides of the plate and staying out of hitter's counts, he's one of the toughest outs in baseball to manage as a lineup. If the Mets can work walks and get him into three-ball counts, that changes his entire approach. Expect catcher Brian Navarreto to play a role in keeping the game plan disciplined behind the plate.

Middle of the Order Needs to Produce

Agustín Ramírez batting third and Javier Sanoja hitting cleanup represent a young core that has to show up against a left-handed starter. Manaea can give lefty-heavy lineups fits, but this Marlins lineup leans right-handed enough to make him uncomfortable. Esteury Ruiz and Deyvison De Los Santos rounding out the five and six slots add athleticism and contact ability to the bottom portion of the order.

Prediction

Alcantara at home is a tough equation for any offense. The Mets are capable, but loanDepot park with Alcantara dealing is a tough environment to put up runs. Expect a low-scoring game that stays close into the seventh. Miami finds a way to manufacture a run or two off Manaea's secondary stuff and Alcantara handles the rest. Marlins 3, Mets 1.

Catch the game on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia or tune in on WQAM 104.3 FM. Spanish-language coverage is available on WAQI 710 AM.