MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Boston Red Sox @ Miami Marlins

MLB Baseball

2026-08-26 - Boston Red Sox at Miami Marlins

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Boston Red Sox @ Miami Marlins
United States : Major League Baseball
Wednesday 26th August 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)

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Preview

Thirty games remain for the Boston Red Sox (73-59) and they will feel there is still an outside chance they can chase down the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East with 5 games separating the teams. It would also mean having to get past the New York Yankees and the Red Sox have a big series coming up against their great rivals which could have implications in the final finishing order in the Wild Card standings.

Both the Yankees and Red Sox are almost certainly going to be playing in the post-season and finishing with the best Wild Card record is likely going to mean that team hosting the other at the end of September.

Looking too far ahead would be a mistake though and ambitions to win the Division has to be main focus as the Boston Red Sox chase a sixth win in a row.

They complete this inter-League series against the Miami Marlins (67-66) who have a record that would have them right in the mix for the Wild Card spots in the American League, but who are 4 games behind in the National League. It has been a season of overachievement, but the Marlins will not want to simply get a back on the pat and would much rather underline the performance with Playoff Baseball.

Miami are looking to avoid a second sweep in three series played when they hand the ball to Ryan Gusto on Wednesday ahead of another series against Divisional rivals Washington Nationals.

Ryan Gusto has a 0-3 record and 4.37 ERA in seventeen appearances in 2026 of which twelve have been in starts. This will be the seventh start in succession for a pitcher who is not really asked to get through the batting lineup three or four times, and Ryan Gusto has put together a 0-1 record and 4.00 ERA in those previous six starts.

He did not give up a run in 4 Innings last time out against the Washington Nationals, but Ryan Gusto will be taking on the Boston Red Sox for the first time knowing the visiting team have scored eleven runs in the first two games.

Boston will counter through veteran Sonny Gray who had been involved in trade rumours when the Red Sox were massively struggling in June before the team got back on track with a couple of very long winning runs. They have been a little streaky, but Gray will head into this latest start with a 16-3 record and 2.79 ERA in twenty-four outings for the Red Sox this season.

There is pressure on all starting pitchers going out to help contenders jockey into position and you do have to wonder if even a veteran like Sonny Gray has been feeling that. He has been feast or famine in recent starts with three of the last six ending with at least four runs allowed, while the other half have seen Gray restrict teams to less than two runs.

Last time out he was knocked around for four runs in 6 Innings thrown against the San Francisco Giants, but still earned the decision win thanks to the Red Sox batting lineup.

Sonny Gray has not pitched against the Miami Marlins this season, but did allow three runs in 5 Innings thrown against them in 2025 when playing for the St Louis Cardinals.

Prediction

Recent outings have been a little more erratic from Sonny Gray, but the Boston Red Sox batting lineup have been key to helping the team put a five game winning run on the board.

It may be the difference in this inter-League game against the Miami Marlins who have Ryan Gusto going to the mound and that gives Boston the slight edge to earn the sweep.

The Pick :

Miami Marlins 3-5 Boston Red Sox

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Boston Red Sox to Win at -149 with BetOnline