The Chicago Cubs travel to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox on Friday, September 25, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM ET. Clay Holmes gets the ball for Chicago against Boston's Alec Gamboa in what shapes up as a late-season interleague matchup. The Cubs are playing out the final days of the 2026 regular season, and every result still carries weight as rosters and rotations settle heading into October. This one airs on Marquee Sports Network for Cubs fans and NESN for the Boston side.

Cubs at Red Sox: Pitching Matchup for Friday, September 25, 2026

Clay Holmes draws the assignment for the Cubs on Friday. Specific ERA and win-loss figures are not available heading into this preview, so the numbers will need to do the talking once Holmes takes the Fenway mound. What we do know is that Fenway Park is one of the most demanding environments a pitcher can face — the Green Monster in left creates opportunities for hitters, and any right-handed bat in the Boston lineup can do damage if a pitcher leaves the ball up and over the plate.

Boston counters with Alec Gamboa, a name that will not send shivers through a Cubs lineup that has been battling through a long season. As with Holmes, specific performance numbers for Gamboa are not available here, but the Cubs will need to do their homework on a pitcher who has earned a spot in Boston's late-season rotation.

Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup

The Red Sox are sending out a lineup with some interesting names Friday afternoon. Here is how Boston is stacking up:

• Roman Anthony, LF
• Mickey Gasper, C
• Adley Rutschman, DH
• Wilyer Abreu, RF
• Caleb Durbin, 3B
• Nick Sogard, 2B
• Jarren Duran, CF
• Andruw Monasterio, 1B
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS

Adley Rutschman slotted in at DH and hitting third is worth noting — he is one of the better two-strike hitters in the American League and will test Holmes if the Cubs starter does not establish his pitches early. Roman Anthony leads off for Boston, and the Cubs pitching staff will need to be sharp from the jump in a ballpark that rewards patient, disciplined at-bats.

Keys to Watch: Cubs at Fenway Park

Holmes and the Green Monster

Fenway's left field wall is 37 feet tall, but the distance down the line is just 310 feet. Holmes will need to manage his location carefully. Balls pulled hard to left can either carom off the wall for doubles or turn into outs depending on trajectory. Command, not just stuff, will define his afternoon.

Cubs Lineup Against a New Face

A Cubs starting lineup is not confirmed in this preview, which makes it harder to project specific matchup advantages. What matters is how Chicago's hitters approach Gamboa — staying disciplined in the first time through the order until they get a read on his pitch mix.

Late-Season Focus

September baseball demands consistency. Teams grinding through the final week of the regular season can lose focus, and the Cubs cannot afford a flat effort on the road at a venue as tough as Fenway.

Prediction

This is a game that hinges on Holmes. If he is locked in and commanding multiple pitches, the Cubs have a path to a road win against a Boston team working in Gamboa. If Holmes struggles in Fenway's unforgiving environment, it becomes a long afternoon in Boston. Expect a competitive, low-scoring game. Cubs 4, Red Sox 3.