The Miami Marlins welcome the San Diego Padres to loanDepot park on Sunday, July 26 for a 1:40 PM ET first pitch. Janson Junk takes the ball for Miami against Walker Buehler, a veteran right-hander who knows how to work through a lineup. This is a meaningful summer contest for a Marlins club looking to build momentum at home, and with a lineup that features some intriguing pieces top to bottom, there is plenty worth watching when these two clubs square off in South Florida.

Pitching Matchup: Janson Junk vs. Walker Buehler

Janson Junk draws the Sunday start for the Marlins. The right-hander has carved out a role in Miami's rotation, and every outing at this stage of the season is a chance to prove he belongs as a reliable arm. The Marlins will need Junk to work deep into the game, attack the strike zone, and limit the damage against a San Diego lineup that features legitimate offensive threats throughout the order.

Walker Buehler brings a track record of durability and competitiveness to the visitor's mound. He has the stuff to keep Miami's lineup off-balance with his ability to manipulate the strike zone and miss bats at critical moments. The Marlins will need to be disciplined early and look to work counts against him.

Miami Marlins Starting Lineup

• 1. Otto Lopez, SS
• 2. Kyle Stowers, 1B
• 3. Heriberto Hernández, LF
• 4. Xavier Edwards, 2B
• 5. Liam Hicks, DH
• 6. Griffin Conine, RF
• 7. Esteury Ruiz, CF
• 8. Graham Pauley, 3B
• 9. Joe Mack, C

San Diego Padres Starting Lineup

• 1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
• 2. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
• 3. Manny Machado, DH
• 4. Ty France, 1B
• 5. Jackson Merrill, CF
• 6. Luis Rengifo, 3B
• 7. Gavin Sheets, LF
• 8. Luis Campusano, C
• 9. Sung-Mun Song, SS

Keys to Watch for the Marlins

Xavier Edwards Batting Cleanup

Slot Eduardo Edwards into the cleanup spot and you signal that the organization sees real run-production upside in his bat. Edwards has shown an advanced approach at the plate and the ability to put the ball in play consistently. How he handles Buehler in high-leverage situations will be one of the defining storylines of this game.

Esteury Ruiz on the Basepaths

Ruiz is one of the fastest players in the organization, and his presence in center field and in the lineup creates a different dimension for the Marlins offense. With Ruiz hitting seventh, Miami has speed in the lower third of the order that can turn a walk or a single into a two-base situation. Getting him on base against Buehler matters.

Containing Tatis and Machado

Fernando Tatis Jr. leads off for San Diego, which means Junk will see him early and potentially multiple times in favorable counts. Manny Machado hitting third adds another layer of difficulty. Junk must establish his fastball and avoid letting the top of San Diego's order dictate the tempo of the game.

Joe Mack Behind the Plate

The young catcher gets the start, and his ability to frame pitches and manage Junk's arsenal will matter. Mack is still developing at the big-league level, and Sunday is another opportunity to sharpen that side of his game against a quality opponent.

Prediction

This figures to be a low-scoring, pitcher-friendly Sunday afternoon at loanDepot park. Buehler is the more proven arm, but Junk has shown he can compete in games like this one. The Marlins offense will need to be opportunistic — manufacture a run early, keep the bullpen from being overworked, and let the home crowd at loanDepot park push this one toward a narrow Miami win. Marlins 3, Padres 2.