Sal Stewart Is Hitting .353 and the Reds Just Beat Sandy Alcantara's Marlins, and That's a Problem for Miami

The Cincinnati Reds rolled into Miami and took game one of a four-game series 2-0 on Monday, and Sal Stewart, the 22-year-old first baseman who grew up in this city, was the difference maker. He ripped the go-ahead RBI single, and now he's bringing that heat right back to loanDepot Park on Tuesday night.

Here's the thing: Stewart isn't just playing well because he's home. The guy is absolutely raking right now. He's hitting .353 with a 1.094 OPS through the early part of April. That's not a hot streak you ignore. That's a guy who's locked in, and the Reds are riding it. The team is sitting at 7-3 despite the fact that most of Cincinnati's other hitters are struggling. The pitching has been elite, but Stewart's bat is carrying the load offensively.

"I'm super happy to be home in Miami," Stewart said after the win. "I love seeing my family and friends. Miami is where I grew up. It's in my blood, and everyone knows how much Miami means to me."

Abbott Gets Another Crack at Alcantara's Marlins

The Reds are sending left-hander Andrew Abbott to the mound on Tuesday. Abbott made his first All-Star game last year at age 26, going 8-1 with a 2.07 ERA in the first half. The second half? Not so pretty. He went 2-6 with a 3.84 ERA down the stretch.

This year he's been streaky: a six-inning shutout on Opening Day against Boston, then four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings against Pittsburgh in a loss on Wednesday. After that defeat, Abbott wasn't making excuses.

"I feel like I'm in a good spot," Abbott said, according to MLB.com. "Obviously, there are improvements to make, there's things to kind of go back over, rewatch, relearn. But for the most part, I'm doing what I meant to do in the spring."

He's facing Sandy Alcantara, Miami's ace and former Cy Young winner who missed all of 2024 with elbow surgery. Here's what's wild about Alcantara right now: he's been absolutely dominant early in 2026. Through 16 innings, he's allowed just seven hits and two walks while striking out 12. He gave up one unearned run on Opening Day against Boston, then threw a three-hit shutout against the White Sox on Wednesday.

Miami's Bats Are in Trouble

The problem for the Marlins isn't the pitching. It's the hitting. Center fielder Jakob Marsee, who had a solid rookie year in 2025 hitting .292 with an .842 OPS, is completely cold right now. He's batting just .109 with a .389 OPS. That's rough.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough isn't panicking though. "With Marsee, things will start falling his way in time," McCullough said. "Those line drives will fall, and he will get on a run."

Stewart, meanwhile, is staying grounded despite the hot start. "We haven't done anything yet," he said. "We just have to stay focused and help the team win."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.