The Boston Red Sox welcome the Cleveland Guardians to Fenway Park on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, for a 7:10 PM ET first pitch with playoff positioning still in the air. Sonny Gray gets the ball for Boston against Cleveland left-hander Foster Griffin in what shapes up as a classic late-September pitching matchup under the Fenway lights. ESPN and the ESPN App carry the national broadcast, with WEEI 93.7 FM handling local radio coverage for Red Sox fans across New England.

Pitching Matchup: Sonny Gray vs. Foster Griffin

Sonny Gray is the veteran presence Boston is counting on in a game with this kind of September weight. Gray has been a reliable arm in the rotation, and getting him on the hill at Fenway Park against a disciplined Cleveland lineup is exactly the kind of assignment that suits his profile. He works off multiple pitch shapes, commands both sides of the plate, and doesn't let big moments rattle him.

Foster Griffin draws the start for the Guardians. The left-hander will face a Boston lineup loaded with right-handed bats, which sets up as an immediate test. How Griffin handles the heart of that order — and whether he can work deep enough into the game to keep Cleveland's bullpen fresh — will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Roman Anthony, LF
• 2. Nick Sogard, 1B
• 3. Jahmai Jones, DH
• 4. Wilyer Abreu, RF
• 5. Adley Rutschman, C
• 6. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
• 7. Caleb Durbin, 3B
• 8. Trevor Story, SS
• 9. Andruw Monasterio, 2B

Keys to Watch Wednesday Night

Roman Anthony Setting the Table

Anthony leads off and gives Boston an on-base threat who can change the complexion of an inning before the lineup's middle core even steps in. How he fares against Griffin early will dictate the tone of Boston's offensive approach.

Adley Rutschman Behind the Plate

Rutschman batting fifth gives the Red Sox a legitimate run-producing option in the bottom half of their order. His ability to frame Gray's pitches and manage the game behind the dish is just as important as what he does with the bat.

Ceddanne Rafaela's Defense in Center

Fenway's center field can be unforgiving, and Rafaela's range and instincts out there remain one of Boston's quieter advantages. Any ball hit to the gap in right-center becomes a referendum on his reads.

Gray's Efficiency Through the Order

Cleveland is a patient, professional lineup that makes starters work. If Gray can keep pitch counts manageable through five or six innings and limit the damage when the Guardians make contact, Boston's bullpen gets a chance to close it out on favorable terms.

Prediction

This one figures to be a tight, low-scoring game — exactly the kind of contest where pitching and defense decide it. Gray is the proven commodity on the mound, and the Fenway crowd on a late-September Wednesday night will be locked in. Boston takes this one, 3-2, with Gray delivering six solid innings and the Red Sox bullpen protecting the lead the rest of the way.