The Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on Sunday, July 26, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET. Ranger Suarez gets the ball for Boston against Toronto's Kevin Gausman in what shapes up as a quality pitching matchup between two veteran starters. With the second half of the 2026 season underway, every series win carries real weight in the American League East standings, and a Sunday afternoon win at Fenway against a division rival would be a meaningful way to close out this set.

Pitching Matchup: Suarez vs. Gausman

Ranger Suarez draws the Sunday start for the Red Sox. The left-hander has been one of Boston's rotation pieces this season, and getting a quality outing from him against a lineup as dangerous as Toronto's would go a long way toward keeping the Blue Jays off the board early. Suarez works with deception and pitch mix rather than pure velocity, so keeping his command sharp will be the key metric to watch.

Kevin Gausman is a legitimate challenge for any lineup. The Toronto right-hander has built his reputation on a devastating split-finger fastball that gives hitters fits, particularly when he's locating it down in the zone. Boston's offense will need to be disciplined and patient early in counts if they want to get into Gausman's pitch count and reach his secondary options later in the game.

Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup

• Masataka Yoshida — DH
• Ceddanne Rafaela — CF
• Wilyer Abreu — RF
• Willson Contreras — 1B
• Caleb Durbin — 3B
• Romy Gonzalez — 2B
• Jarren Duran — LF
• Andruw Monasterio — SS
• Carlos Narváez — C

Keys to Watch

Boston's Offense Against Gausman's Splitter

Gausman lives and dies by his split-finger fastball. The Red Sox lineup — led by Masataka Yoshida batting leadoff and Wilyer Abreu hitting third — will need to resist chasing that pitch out of the zone. Yoshida's plate discipline makes him a logical table-setter, and getting him on base early puts immediate pressure on Gausman before the heart of the order arrives.

Willson Contreras Anchoring the Middle of the Order

Contreras slots in at cleanup at first base, a lineup construction that puts a power bat in the spot where Boston needs run production most. How he fares against Gausman's arsenal will likely set the tone for whether this offense generates crooked numbers or scratches for single runs.

Jarren Duran Batting Seventh

Duran hitting seventh is a notable lineup placement for a player with his offensive profile. Whether that reflects a rest-of-rotation decision by the Sox coaching staff or a matchup-specific call, his presence deeper in the order gives Boston a potential momentum swing late in ballgames when opposing relievers enter.

Suarez's Command Early

Toronto can punish pitchers who fall behind in counts. Suarez keeping the Blue Jays off the bases in the first two innings will be the clearest early indicator of how this game is likely to go.

Prediction

This one figures to be a low-scoring, pitcher-friendly afternoon at Fenway Park. Gausman is a difficult assignment, but Boston's lineup has enough patient hitters to find opportunities. If Suarez gives the Red Sox six innings and the bullpen holds, Boston takes a close one. Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2.

Catch all the action on NESN or on the radio at WEEI 93.7 FM.