The Miami Marlins return to loanDepot park on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch against the Boston Red Sox. Boston sends right-hander Payton Tolle to the mound, while Miami's starter remains unannounced heading into the evening. It's a regular season matchup that gives the Marlins a chance to take care of business in front of their home crowd, and the lineup card Miami is running out there suggests the organization is leaning hard into its young core to get it done.

Boston Starter Payton Tolle Takes the Mound

Tolle gets the ball for Boston, though detailed ERA and record figures are not yet available for this start. What Miami's lineup will need to do is simple: get a read on him early, work counts, and manufacture pressure. The Red Sox are making the trip to South Florida, and the Marlins have an opportunity to control this game from the jump.

Miami Marlins Starting Lineup

Manager Skip Schumaker has submitted a lineup built around a blend of speed, contact ability, and developing power. Here's who's penciled in for Tuesday night at loanDepot park:

• 1. Otto Lopez, SS
• 2. Heriberto Hernández, LF
• 3. Agustín Ramírez, DH
• 4. Javier Sanoja, 3B
• 5. Xavier Edwards, 2B
• 6. Leo Jiménez, 1B
• 7. Griffin Conine, RF
• 8. Esteury Ruiz, CF
• 9. Brian Navarreto, C

Lopez at the top sets the tone — he's a table-setter who can use the whole field and put pressure on defenses with his legs. Hernández slots in at two, and the middle of the order belongs to Ramírez and Sanoja, the kind of bats that can change a game in a single swing. Edwards at five keeps the lineup from having a clear off switch, and Ruiz in the eight-hole is a legitimate base-stealing threat who can turn a quiet inning loud in a hurry.

Keys to Watch in Tuesday's Marlins-Red Sox Matchup

Miami's Unnamed Starter

The biggest question mark heading into Tuesday is who takes the ball for the Marlins. Until that name is confirmed, it's the central variable in any projection for this game. Depth, command, and the ability to keep Boston's lineup off the bases will determine the game's early rhythm.

Esteury Ruiz on the Basepaths

Ruiz batting eighth isn't just about lineup construction — it's a weapon. When he reaches, he changes the dynamic for Navarreto and flips the lineup back to Lopez faster. Keep an eye on how aggressively the Marlins deploy him against Boston's battery.

Protecting loanDepot Park

Home games matter. The Marlins have the chance to dictate pace, use their bullpen on their terms, and feed off whatever energy is in the building. That advantage is real, and Miami needs to use it.

Prediction

Until Miami's starting pitcher is confirmed, there's a genuine unknown sitting at the center of this preview. But the lineup the Marlins are running out is legitimate — it has speed, contact, and enough pop to put crooked numbers on the board. If the home starter delivers five or six quality innings, this is Miami's game to win. Marlins 5, Red Sox 3.

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