Nationals at Red Sox lineups and preview for Game 83
The Nationals and Red Sox open a three-game series at Fenway Park on Monday, June 29, with Washington sending Miles Mikolas (2-6, 5.24 ERA) against Boston lefty Ranger Suárez (3-3, 2.83 ERA) at 7:10 p.m. on NESN. Boston rides a Yankees sweep; Washington counters with Luis García Jr. on a tear.
Game 83 pits the Nationals (43-42) against the Red Sox (36-46) in the first meeting of 2026 between the clubs. Boston returns home after Jarren Duran's walk-off single capped a four-game sweep of New York on Sunday. Washington bounced back from a Friday loss to Baltimore with weekend wins over the Orioles.
Key Takeaways
- Ranger Suárez starts for Boston opposite Miles Mikolas in the Fenway opener at 7:10 p.m. ET on NESN and WEEI-FM 93.7.
- The Red Sox lineup features Masataka Yoshida leading off, with Duran batting fifth behind Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu.
- Luis García Jr. enters 10-for-19 (.526) with six home runs and nine RBIs over his last six games for Washington.
- DraftKings Network projects a 6-3 Red Sox win and tabs Boston's team total over 4.5 runs as the best bet.
- Suárez owns a 1.50 ERA across four June starts but has yet to earn a home decision win this season.
Who is starting for the Nationals and Red Sox?
Washington counters with right-hander Miles Mikolas, who is 2-6 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.29 WHIP this season. The 37-year-old is 1-1 with a 6.59 ERA in three career starts against Boston, allowing 17 hits in 13⅔ innings, per The Boston Globe.
Boston hands the ball to lefty Ranger Suárez, who is 3-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 84 strikeouts. He is 8-2 with a 3.98 ERA in 17 career appearances against Washington. Suárez carried a no-hitter into the seventh at Seattle and posted a 1.50 ERA over four June starts (24.0 IP), though he has not recorded a decision win at Fenway in 2026.
What do the Nationals at Red Sox lineups look like?
The Globe listed both lineups as TBA ahead of first pitch, but Boston revealed its order hours before game time. Masataka Yoshida leads off as the designated hitter, followed by Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right, and Willson Contreras at first.
Jarren Duran bats fifth in left field, with Caleb Durbin at third, Anthony Seigler at second, Carlos Narváez catching, and Tsung-Che Cheng at shortstop. Willson Contreras leads Boston with 17 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .281 average entering the night.
Why does this Nationals Red Sox matchup matter?
The Red Sox enter on a 7-3 run over their last 10 games with a 2.05 ERA, outscoring opponents by 18 runs after sweeping the Yankees. That emotional lift matters for a club sitting fifth in the AL East at 36-46 but riding its loudest series win of the season.
Washington's offense ranks near the top of MLB in runs scored and sits tied for fourth in home runs, yet its pitching ranks among baseball's worst. Luis García Jr., the reigning NL Player of the Week, has six homers in six games — including two on Sunday in Baltimore. His hot stretch is the biggest threat to Suárez on Monday.
What is the prediction for Game 83?
Sportsbooks list Boston as roughly a -170 to -188 favorite with an 8.5-run total at Fenway. DraftKings Network projects a 6-3 Red Sox victory and recommends the Red Sox team total over 4.5 runs at -120, citing Mikolas's struggles as a starter and Washington's bullpen issues.
Mikolas ranks in the lowest three percentile for strikeouts and swings-and-misses per Baseball Savant data cited by Yahoo Sports. Once he exits, Boston's offense could attack a Nationals relief corps that has been one of the easier late-game targets on the board this season.
After this three-game homestand, the Red Sox head on a road trip against the Angels, White Sox, and Mets. For more breaking sports coverage, follow our Celebrity Breaking News section.