The San Diego Padres head to Miami for a Saturday afternoon showdown against the Marlins at loanDepot park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 PM ET on July 25, 2026. JP Sears gets the ball for San Diego opposite Miami's hard-throwing right-hander Eury Pérez. With the regular season deep into its second half, every game in the standings matters, and the Padres will be looking to pick up a road win against a Marlins club that features one of the more electric young arms in the National League.
Padres Probable Starter: JP Sears on the Road
JP Sears draws the start for San Diego in this one. The left-hander has shown the ability to keep hitters off balance with a mix of offerings and solid command, and road starts against NL opponents will be critical tests as the Padres push through the second half. Sears will need to limit traffic on the bases against a Marlins lineup that can be inconsistent but dangerous when it strings hits together. How he manages the Miami order early in the game — and how deep into the contest he can pitch — will be the primary story for San Diego's pitching staff on Saturday.
Marlins Probable Starter: Eury Pérez Returns to Face San Diego
On the other side, Eury Pérez takes the hill for Miami. The young right-hander has genuine frontline stuff — elite velocity and a breaking ball that makes him one of the more difficult pitchers in the NL to square up when he's on. The Padres' lineup will need a disciplined approach, working counts and avoiding chasing Pérez's secondary pitches out of the zone. San Diego's ability to make Pérez work deep into counts could be the difference in whether this game stays close or gets away early.
Keys to Watch for the Padres
- Early-count discipline: Pérez is most dangerous when he gets ahead. The Padres need hitters to stay patient and make him throw strikes.
- Sears limiting the big inning: Miami can pile on damage in bunches. Sears keeping the Marlins to single runs rather than crooked numbers is essential.
- Bullpen depth: If Sears exits before the seventh, San Diego's relief corps will face pressure to hold whatever lead or deficit exists. Arm availability out of the 'pen is worth monitoring.
- Situational hitting: Runs against Pérez are likely to come at a premium. The Padres can't afford to leave runners stranded in scoring position.
How to Watch Padres at Marlins
Saturday's game is available nationally on FS1. Padres fans can also catch the broadcast on Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health, while Spanish-language radio coverage is available on XEMO 860 AM. Miami-area listeners can tune in to WQAM 104.3 FM or WAQI 710 AM.
Prediction
This is a matchup that hinges heavily on pitching. Eury Pérez is talented enough to keep San Diego's offense in check through several innings, but the Padres have shown they can manufacture runs against quality arms. Expect a low-scoring affair that likely comes down to the middle innings. If Sears can match Pérez zero for zero through five or six frames and San Diego gets to the Miami bullpen first, the Padres have a real shot to steal this one on the road. Padres 3, Marlins 2.
