The Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to host the Chicago White Sox in a 7:10 PM ET first pitch. Patrick Sandoval gets the ball for Boston against Chicago's Davis Martin. It's a midweek home contest that gives the Sox a chance to build on their current roster construction, with a lineup that shuffles several names into unfamiliar spots. NESN carries the broadcast locally, and WEEI 93.7 FM has you covered on the radio dial if you're making the commute.

Pitching Matchup: Patrick Sandoval vs. Davis Martin

Sandoval draws the start for Boston in what shapes up as a genuine test of his current form. The left-hander has the kind of stuff that can keep a lineup off-balance, and pitching at Fenway — with its quirky dimensions and intimate atmosphere — tends to reward pitchers who can work both sides of the plate. The onus is on Sandoval to set the tone early and keep the Red Sox in a favorable position through the middle innings.

For Chicago, Davis Martin gets the assignment. Martin is a right-hander who will need to navigate a Boston lineup that has some legitimate contact threats from top to bottom. The White Sox are asking Martin to give them length and keep the game competitive — a reasonable ask, but Fenway has a way of shortening outings in a hurry if a starter loses command.

Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Nick Sogard — 2B
• 2. Ceddanne Rafaela — CF
• 3. Wilyer Abreu — RF
• 4. Willson Contreras — 1B
• 5. Masataka Yoshida — DH
• 6. Caleb Durbin — 3B
• 7. Jarren Duran — LF
• 8. Andruw Monasterio — SS
• 9. Connor Wong — C

Chicago White Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Chase Meidroth — 2B
• 2. Munetaka Murakami — 1B
• 3. Miguel Vargas — 3B
• 4. Randal Grichuk — LF
• 5. Colson Montgomery — DH
• 6. Joey Bart — C
• 7. Brenton Doyle — CF
• 8. Braden Montgomery — RF
• 9. Luisangel Acuña — SS

Keys to Watch at Fenway Park

Willson Contreras Settling In at First Base

Contreras hitting cleanup and playing first base is a lineup construction worth tracking. He's a catcher by trade, and how he handles the position defensively — while remaining a run-producing presence at the plate — will be one of the subplots of this game. Boston needs production from that four-hole spot, and Contreras is the man they've entrusted with it.

Masataka Yoshida's Bat in the Middle of the Order

Yoshida at DH and hitting fifth gives Boston a genuine contact threat with pop potential behind Contreras. Chicago's pitching staff will need to navigate Contreras and Yoshida back-to-back, which is not a comfortable proposition. If Sandoval keeps Chicago's offense contained early, those two bats could do real damage.

Jarren Duran Dropping to Seventh

Duran's placement at seventh in the order is notable. He's shown the ability to be a dynamic offensive player, and manager Alex Cora has options with how he deploys him. Watch whether Duran's spot in the lineup affects how aggressively Boston runs on the bases in the later innings.

Chicago's Munetaka Murakami Hitting Second

The White Sox slotting Murakami second in their lineup is an aggressive move. The Japanese slugger hitting that high in the order signals that Chicago wants their best bat seeing as many plate appearances as possible. Sandoval will face him early and often — how he handles that matchup could define the game's early trajectory.

Prediction

Fenway is a place that punishes mistakes, and Martin facing a lineup with Contreras, Yoshida, and Abreu in the heart of it is a tough spot. Sandoval has the profile to keep Chicago's offense in check for a solid five or six innings. The edge goes to Boston at home. Red Sox win, 5–3.