The Miami Marlins welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to loanDepot park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch that puts two of the most talented young arms in baseball on the same diamond. Eury Pérez gets the ball for Miami against Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes in what is unquestionably the most compelling individual pitching duel the Marlins have offered their home fans in some time. Whatever is happening in the standings, a matchup like this one carries its own weight.

Probable Pitchers: Eury Pérez vs. Paul Skenes

Eury Pérez is the story the Marlins have been building toward for years. The right-hander's ceiling has never been in question — it's the health and consistency that Miami has been waiting on. Every Pérez start at loanDepot park is an opportunity to watch something special develop, and Tuesday night is no different. The organization needs him to go deep into ballgames and give the bullpen a rest, and this is exactly the kind of high-profile start that can define stretches of a season.

On the other side, Paul Skenes is the assignment nobody wants. The Pirates' young starter has the kind of stuff that disrupts lineups regardless of how well they've been swinging it. Miami's hitters will need to be disciplined and opportunistic — free passes and mistakes have to be converted, because Skenes is not going to hand over a crooked number easily.

Miami Marlins Starting Lineup

• 1. Xavier Edwards, 2B
• 2. Otto Lopez, SS
• 3. Griffin Conine, 1B
• 4. Heriberto Hernández, LF
• 5. Jakob Marsee, CF
• 6. Javier Sanoja, 3B
• 7. Owen Caissie, DH
• 8. Joe Mack, C
• 9. Esteury Ruiz, RF

Keys to Watch

Xavier Edwards Sets the Tone at the Top

Edwards leading off is exactly what this lineup needs against an elite arm. His ability to work counts and get on base gives Miami something to build around in the early innings. If he can find his way on base and create havoc, it opens the door before Skenes settles into a rhythm.

Heriberto Hernández Batting Cleanup

Slotting Hernández fourth puts the lineup's run-producing expectations squarely on his shoulders. With Conine hitting third and Marsee following at five, there is enough protection around him that pitchers cannot simply work around Hernández without consequence. How he handles Skenes will be one of the defining storylines of this game.

Eury Pérez's Pitch Efficiency

Against a lineup like Pittsburgh's, Pérez needs to minimize walks and stay out of deep counts. The longer he can stay in this game, the better Miami's chances. A short outing would shift the burden to a bullpen that faces enough wear across a long season.

Esteury Ruiz Batting Ninth

Ruiz hitting ninth is worth watching as a secondary table-setter. His speed at the bottom of the order can turn the lineup over in dangerous ways if he reaches base ahead of Edwards and Lopez.

Prediction

This is the kind of game that gets decided by one swing or one mistake in a late inning. Pérez matching Skenes zero for zero deep into the night is a realistic outcome, and that means the Marlins need to capitalize on any crack they find. Miami takes this one 2-1 in a tightly contested pitchers' duel — but only if Pérez can deliver six strong innings and the middle of the lineup does its job when the moment arrives.

Catch the action on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig and Garcia, or listen locally on WQAM 104.3 and WAQI 710 (Spanish).