The Miami Marlins return to loanDepot park on Friday, July 24, 2026, for a 7:10 PM ET showdown against the San Diego Padres. Germán Márquez gets the ball for San Diego, while Miami has yet to name a starter — a question mark that will be one of the bigger storylines heading into first pitch. With the second half of the season in full swing, every game carries real weight in the standings, and a home date against a Padres club that travels well makes this one worth circling on the calendar.

Pitching Matchup: Germán Márquez Takes the Mound for San Diego

The Padres are sending Germán Márquez to the hill, a right-hander who has logged significant big-league mileage and knows how to work through a lineup. Specific ERA and win-loss figures for Márquez are not yet available for this preview, but his track record demands respect. Miami's lineup will need to be disciplined early, work counts, and avoid expanding the strike zone against a pitcher who has shown the ability to generate weak contact when he's on.

On the Miami side, the absence of a confirmed starter is worth watching closely. Whether the Marlins go with an arm from the rotation or piece together an opener-and-bulk approach, the early innings could set the tone for the entire game. A defined pitching plan will go a long way toward keeping San Diego's offense — which can do damage against both fastballs and breaking balls — off the board.

Keys to Watch for the Marlins

• Lineup production at home: loanDepot park can play as a pitcher's environment, but Miami's hitters need to take advantage of favorable counts and put together multi-run innings when the opportunity presents itself.
• First-inning discipline against Márquez: Getting a read on what he's featuring early — whether that's a sharp breaking ball or an elevated fastball — will help Miami make adjustments as the game deepens.
• Bullpen management: Without a named starter, the Marlins' relief corps could be tested as early as the third or fourth inning. Keeping high-leverage arms fresh for the back half of the game is essential.
• Defensive execution: Clean defense behind whoever takes the mound keeps pitch counts manageable and limits the damage from San Diego's patient approach at the plate.

Broadcast Information

Friday's game is available on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia and on the radio at WQAM 104.3 FM. Spanish-language coverage airs on WAQI 710 AM. Padres fans can catch the action on Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health and KWFN 97.3 FM, with Spanish-language radio on XEMO 860 AM.

Prediction

This one hinges almost entirely on who Miami puts on the mound and how deep that arm can go. Márquez is a known quantity for San Diego — experienced, durable, and capable of keeping a game close into the seventh inning. If the Marlins can name a starter who matches that length and keeps the Padres to three runs or fewer, Miami has the lineup depth at home to scratch out a win in the late innings. Until that pitching decision is announced, call it a coin flip — but loanDepot park crowds have a way of making things interesting. Marlins 4, Padres 3.