The Miami Marlins head to Kansas City for a Tuesday night regular season showdown against the Royals, with first pitch set for 7:40 PM ET at Kauffman Stadium on September 1, 2026. Miami will send right-hander Tyler Phillips to the hill opposite Kansas City's Randy Dobnak in what shapes up as a pitching matchup between two starters who will need to execute to keep their respective clubs in the game. With September baseball underway and every game carrying weight in the standings, the Fish can't afford to let a road opportunity slip away in Missouri.

Probable Pitchers: Tyler Phillips vs. Randy Dobnak

Tyler Phillips gets the call for the Marlins in this one. The right-hander will look to give Miami length and keep the Kansas City offense from doing too much damage early. His ability to generate weak contact and work efficiently through the lineup will be critical in a road environment where the Marlins need to silence the home crowd.

On the other side, Randy Dobnak takes the mound for the Royals. Dobnak has shown the capacity to grind through lineups with a sinker-heavy approach, and the Marlins will need to stay disciplined at the plate to avoid hitting into soft outs and falling behind on the scoreboard. Getting deep counts against Dobnak and working for traffic on the bases is the blueprint Miami needs to follow.

Keys to Watch for the Miami Marlins

• Plate discipline against Dobnak: Dobnak lives on inducing weak contact. Miami's hitters need to stay short to the ball and avoid chasing early in counts, or this game can get away quickly.
• Phillips keeping Kansas City off the board early: Road games at Kauffman Stadium can turn on a single big inning. Phillips needs to navigate the top of the Royals order cleanly and set a steady tone through the first three frames.
• Bullpen management: September rosters are expanded, which gives Miami more options out of the pen. How the Marlins deploy their relievers in the middle innings could determine the outcome if this game stays close into the sixth and seventh.
• Capitalizing on runners in scoring position: The Marlins have to convert when they get their chances. Leaving runs on base in a tight, low-scoring affair against a Dobnak-type pitcher is a fast track to a loss.

Broadcast Information

Miami fans can catch the game on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, or tune in on the radio at WQAM 104.3 (English) or WAQI 710 (Spanish). Kansas City's side will air on Royals.TV and the Royals Radio Network.

Prediction

This feels like a game that will be decided by two or three runs, maybe less. Both Phillips and Dobnak profile as starters who limit the big inning, which means execution in the small moments — a sacrifice fly, a bases-loaded walk, a stolen base — is what separates the winner from the loser. The Marlins have enough to steal one on the road here, but they'll need Phillips to give them at least five solid innings and the lineup to come through with runners on base. Call it a close Marlins win, 3-2, with the bullpen slamming the door in the final two frames.