Marlins put Alcantara (forearm strain), Soler (oblique) on IL

MIAMI -- The Marlins' push for a postseason berth took a major hit on Wednesday when they lost two key players, as reigning National League Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain (retroactive to Monday) and All-Star DH/outfielder Jorge Soler landed on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain.

Miami (71-67) entered Wednesday's game against the Dodgers a half-game back of Cincinnati (73-68) for the final NL Wild Card spot with 24 games to go.

“I think we've said this all year: This is an incredibly resilient group, as evidenced by their performance at different times of the year," general manager Kim Ng said, "so I could definitely see them rallying together and knowing that they've got to pick up some of the slack."

In corresponding roster moves, the Marlins recalled right-hander Edward Cabrera and utilityman Dane Myers (Miami's No. 14 prospect) from Triple-A Jacksonville, selected the contract of left-hander Devin Smeltzer and designated right-hander Geoff Hartlieb for assignment.

Alcantara said he felt the discomfort on the final pitch of his start on Sunday against the Nationals, when he allowed four runs (two earned) over eight innings in a 6-4 win. It came on his 94th pitch and 18th curveball of the outing -- the most he has thrown since Sept. 5, 2020. The club was awaiting consultation on the severity of the injury.

“That's the most [important] thing that I'm thinking, knowing the position that my team is in right now,” Alcantara said. “Not being there fighting, it's something that broke my heart. But it is what it is. I've just got to take it.”

This marks the first time the 27-year-old right-hander has landed on the IL with an arm-related injury. Alcantara, who has credited his rigorous routine for his success, is in no-throw status but can continue working out as he usually would.

Since 2019, Alcantara leads all qualified pitchers with 858 1/3 innings pitched, including back-to-back 200-plus-frame seasons from 2021-22. His 6.66 innings per start over the past three years is the highest by any qualified starter in a three-year span since Corey Kluber averaged 6.74 IP per start from 2016-18.

Although Alcantara hasn't been as sharp this season, with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over 28 starts, compared to a 2.28 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his Cy Young season, he remains a workhorse; he leads MLB with three complete games (one shutout) and 762 batters faced.

In Alcantara’s absence, the club plans on going with a pair of openers, per manager Skip Schumaker. All season long, Miami has monitored the workload of young starters Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Eury Pérez, each of whom has already surpassed their career highs in innings. Cabrera, who was demoted to Triple-A Jacksonville to work on his command at the beginning of August, could return to the rotation. Right-hander Bryan Hoeing also could join the mix. Veteran Johnny Cueto remains as an innings-eater option.

“We're trying to be as creative as we can every single start to help us,” Schumaker said. “We have three and a half weeks left, four weeks left, and we're going to do the best we can to get to the postseason – whatever that means. All hands on deck. We have guys that have a lot of innings right now. We're still concerned with that, and we're also trying to make it to the postseason. So we're trying to do the best we can to be creative and to still make the postseason.”

Losing Soler is a blow to a lineup that entered Wednesday having scored six or more runs in each of its past five games (all wins). Soler entered Wednesday ranked fifth in the NL with 35 homers, and his 71 RBIs were tied with Bryan De La Cruz for the team lead. Schumaker said Miami will likely use the designated hitter spot as a way to give players like Jake Burger and Josh Bell time off their feet defensively.

The 31-year-old Soler, who missed five games with right hip tightness before returning to the lineup on Tuesday, has battled oblique issues before, including IL stints with the same injury when with the Royals in 2020 and '21. A bout with back spasms ended his '22 season after just 72 games. Schumaker said the issue popped up after one of Soler’s swings on Tuesday.

“Injuries happen,” Schumaker said. “Every team is dealing with something, and we're dealing with Sandy and Soli going down right now, and it's up to us to push through it. It's just what happens in the game. Injuries happen. Again, it's horrible for Sandy, it's horrible for Soli, at this time of the year, but with the callups, we have plenty of players to help us win tonight and in the next 24 games.”