Red Sox begin road trip with stop at Marlins, fishing for runs

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 11: The Miami Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin waves a flag after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at loanDepot park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Owen Gupta/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Sweep! The best kind of weekend. Didn’

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Sweep! The best kind of weekend. Didn’t hurt that it was an NL West team. Those Diambondbacks were kinda pesky too. Nice to just finish the week at 5-1.

Ranger Suarez needed a good outing against those Dbacks and he, well, sorta kinda got it. There was a grand slam but the Boston bats carried the team to a 9-4 victory. Suarez and the ‘pen allowed just those four runs. Sandy Alcantara was an ace. Then he got hurt. Last season he was back but a mess and this year has had some rough spots. But the last

month he’s been cruising. Seven innings in three of his last five starts. He didn’t even allow a run over three of his last five outings. He’s not back to his 8.0 bWAR form from 2023 but he’s leading the NL in innings and starts and looking healthy.

Payton Tolle was a little bit of a hard luck loser last time out. He wasn’t at his best but a few bad bounces and one thing led to another and it was a less than perfect outing for the team’s most enthusiastic jumper. Is he running out of gas as the innings pile up? Maybe? But his two starts before this were each masterpieces. The Red Sox are seemingly trying to find him extra rest but so far he’s still just having an impressive first full MLB season. His opponent hasn’t been announced, maybe the Sox finally catch a team short handed?

Closing out the series is legitimate Cy Young candidate Sonny Gray. Last time out against the Giants wasn’t his best work but 4 runs in 7.0 innings is enough for the offense to work with. Ryan Gusto has made 12 starts in his 17 appearances this year and has tossed 57.2 innings in total. He strikes out 8.0 per nine innings and has 3.40 times as many Ks as BBs. The righty has two starts longer than 4.2 innings and also rarely (4 times) goes over 68 pitches. This is one to watch if Nick Sogard starts fouling off pitches early.

Remember Otto Lopez? Big time trade candidate? He’s hitting just .215/.273/.241. So, small sample size and all but when you’ve got Sogard on the roster who needs the Otto mobile.