The Boston Red Sox make the trip down to Miami for a Tuesday night road contest against the Marlins, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET at loanDepot park on August 25, 2026. Payton Tolle gets the ball for Boston in this regular season matchup, while Miami has yet to name a starter. The game airs locally on NESN and on the radio via WEEI 93.7 for Red Sox fans who can't make the trip south. With the dog days of August in full swing, every game in the standings counts, and the Sox need a strong showing on the road.

Pitching Matchup: Tolle Takes the Ball for Boston

Payton Tolle draws the start for the Red Sox in this one. Specific ERA and win-loss data for Tolle are not yet available heading into tonight's game, so Red Sox fans will be watching closely to see what he can bring. Miami has not yet announced a probable starter, which adds a layer of uncertainty to Boston's pre-game preparation. Getting a quality start from Tolle — keeping the Marlins lineup in check deep into the game — will be critical to giving the Red Sox offense enough opportunities to work with.

Miami Marlins Lineup to Watch

The Marlins are sending out a lineup that Boston's pitching staff will need to navigate carefully. Here's how Miami lines up:

• Otto Lopez — SS
• Heriberto Hernández — LF
• Agustín Ramírez — DH
• Javier Sanoja — 3B
• Xavier Edwards — 2B
• Leo Jiménez — 1B
• Griffin Conine — RF
• Esteury Ruiz — CF
• Brian Navarreto — C

Otto Lopez sets the table at the top of the order at shortstop, with Agustín Ramírez slotted in as the cleanup-area threat at DH. Xavier Edwards, a contact-oriented bat, hits fifth and gives Miami the ability to string hits together in the middle of the lineup. Esteury Ruiz in center brings speed to the bottom third — Tolle will need to be sharp with his pitch sequencing to prevent Ruiz from creating chaos on the bases.

Keys to Watch for the Red Sox

1. Tolle's Command Against a Contact-Heavy Lineup

Miami's lineup doesn't jump off the page with power threats, but it is built to put the ball in play and create pressure. Tolle will need to establish his fastball early and work efficiently to limit traffic on the bases and avoid a big inning.

2. Boston's Offense on the Road

Away from Fenway Park, the Red Sox don't get the familiar home comforts of the Green Monster or the Fenway crowd. Performing consistently on the road is a measure of any club's depth, and tonight is a chance for Boston's lineup to prove it can produce regardless of setting.

3. Bullpen Management

With Miami's starter TBD, the Red Sox coaching staff may face early decisions about when to go to the bullpen depending on how the game unfolds. Having relievers ready and fresh heading into the late innings will be essential if the game is close.

Prediction

This shapes up as a tight, low-scoring affair. Tolle keeping Miami's contact-oriented lineup off-balance is the linchpin. If the Red Sox offense can scratch across runs early and provide some cushion, Boston has a reasonable path to a road win. Expect a competitive game decided in the late innings. Red Sox 4, Marlins 2.