The Miami Marlins host the San Diego Padres on Saturday, July 25 at loanDepot park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 PM ET. Right-hander Eury Pérez takes the ball for Miami opposite San Diego's JP Sears in what shapes up as a compelling pitching matchup. The game airs nationally on FS1 and locally on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, with Spanish-language radio coverage available on WAQI 710 AM. For a Marlins club looking to build momentum in the second half of the 2026 season, home games against a Padres roster built to compete carry genuine weight.

Marlins Probable Starter: Eury Pérez

Eury Pérez is the centerpiece of this preview and, frankly, the most important Marlin to watch all season long. The young right-hander has electric stuff — a fastball that can touch the upper-90s paired with a breaking ball that gives hitters fits. Pérez getting consistent work and building on each outing is exactly what Miami needs heading deeper into 2026. How deep he goes Saturday, and whether his command holds through the middle innings, will set the tone for the entire afternoon.

Padres Probable Starter: JP Sears

JP Sears brings a different profile to the mound — a left-hander who relies on changing speeds and commanding the strike zone rather than overpowering hitters. He's the type of pitcher who can keep a lineup off-balance if his location is sharp. Miami's lineup will need to stay disciplined and avoid expanding the zone early in counts if they want to get to Sears and push him toward a short outing.

Marlins Lineup to Watch

Manager Skip Schumaker has sent out a lineup with a clear identity. Otto Lopez leads off at shortstop, with Kyle Stowers slotted second at first base. The middle of the order features Heriberto Hernández in left field batting third and Xavier Edwards at second base batting cleanup — an interesting choice that reflects Edwards' on-base ability. Liam Hicks catches and hits fifth, followed by Javier Sanoja at third base. Griffin Conine draws the DH role batting seventh, Esteury Ruiz is in right field at eighth, and Jakob Marsee gets the start in center field batting ninth.

Keys to Watch

• Eury Pérez's command: If Pérez is locating his fastball and getting early contact, he has the ceiling to dominate. Walk trouble is the thing to watch against a patient San Diego lineup.
• Xavier Edwards batting cleanup: Hitting Edwards fourth puts his bat in high-leverage spots all game. How he handles left-handed pitching from Sears will be telling.
• Esteury Ruiz on the bases: Ruiz's speed in the eight-hole creates problems for any battery. If he reaches, the Padres have to account for him, which opens things up for Marsee and Lopez to turn the lineup over.
• Jakob Marsee in center: Marsee gets a start here and his range in center field at loanDepot park — with its dimensions — matters on balls hit to the gaps.

Prediction

This one leans Miami. Pérez at home with a full lineup behind him is a good recipe, and the Marlins' speed at the bottom of the order can manufacture pressure against a left-hander. San Diego is never an easy out, and Sears will keep it close early, but expect Pérez to carry Miami through six innings and the bullpen to close it out. Marlins 4, Padres 2.