The Boston Red Sox travel to Miami to open a series against the Marlins on Monday, August 24, 2026, with first pitch at loanDepot park set for 6:40 PM ET. Ranger Suárez takes the ball for Boston against Sandy Alcántara, one of the more decorated arms in the National League. With the regular season grinding toward its final stretch, every game in the standings carries real weight, and the Sox need a strong road showing to stay relevant in the AL race. Catch the action on NESN or WEEI 93.7 if you're tuned in from New England.

Pitching Matchup: Suárez vs. Alcántara

Left-hander Ranger Suárez gets the nod for Boston. Suárez is a contact-management arm who relies on his ability to generate weak contact and work efficiently through lineups. He'll need to be sharp against a Marlins lineup that, while not the most feared in the NL, has enough athletic pieces to make things uncomfortable if he leaves pitches in hittable zones.

On the other side, Sandy Alcántara is a name Red Sox hitters will need to take seriously. The right-hander has established himself as one of the more durable and capable starters in the game when healthy and on his game. His heavy sinker and ability to generate ground balls make him a tough out at loanDepot park, where the ball doesn't always carry. Boston's lineup will need patience and discipline at the plate to get into his pitch count and do damage.

Boston Red Sox Lineup to Watch

• Nick Sogard leads off at shortstop, setting the table at the top of the order.
• Ceddanne Rafaela bats second in center field — his speed and athleticism make him a constant factor when he gets on base.
• Wilyer Abreu slots in third, giving Boston a right-field presence with some punch.
• Willson Contreras hits cleanup at first base, the lineup's most proven run-producer on the card tonight.
• Adley Rutschman bats fifth behind the plate — a high-contact, disciplined hitter who can be a nightmare for pitchers trying to work around the middle of the order.
• Jarren Duran drops to seventh in left field, an interesting spot for a player with his speed and offensive upside.

Miami Marlins Lineup to Watch

• Otto Lopez leads off at shortstop for Miami.
• Kyle Stowers bats third at first base and will be one of the bigger threats Suárez faces.
• Agustín Ramírez hits cleanup as the designated hitter — a name Suárez cannot afford to make a mistake to.
• Esteury Ruiz bats eighth in right field and brings stolen-base threat that Boston's defense needs to account for.

Keys to the Game

• Plate discipline against Alcántara: Alcántara is at his best when hitters expand the zone. Boston needs patient at-bats, particularly from Contreras and Rutschman in the middle of the lineup, to drive up his pitch count and reach the Marlins' bullpen.
• Suárez limiting damage in the middle: Ramírez and Stowers are the two Marlins hitters who can change the game in a single swing. Suárez needs to be precise when the lineup turns over to those spots.
• Speed awareness: Esteury Ruiz is a legitimate base-stealing threat. Suárez and Rutschman — wait, Rutschman is behind the dish for Boston tonight, not for the Marlins. Joe Mack catches for Miami. Boston's battery won't be tested on that front, but Suárez should still work quickly.
• Duran's role: Jarren Duran batting seventh is something to monitor. If the lineup clicks early and Duran finds his way on base, his speed becomes a weapon regardless of where he hits.

Prediction

This one figures to be a low-scoring, pitcher-friendly ballgame. Alcántara is a tough draw on the road, and loanDepot park isn't exactly a hitter's haven. That said, Boston has enough lineup depth — particularly with Contreras and Rutschman batting back-to-back — to scratch out runs against anyone. If Suárez is efficient and avoids the big inning, the Sox have a path to a win. Call it a close game decided by the bullpens, with Boston edging out a 3-2 victory behind a strong Suárez outing and a timely hit from the middle of the order.