GAME #1 - Detroit Tigers @ San Diego Padres, March 26, 2026, 4:10 PM EST

[byco42]

GAME #1 March 26, 2026
Tigers @ Padres

4:10 PM EST

Petco Park



Tarik Skubal #29
LHP
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.000 WHIP - Career 54-37, 3.08, 1.03

Tigers’ Record (0-0)

Tigers' Opening Day Lineup

1. K Carpenter (L) RF
2. G Torres (R) 2B
3. C Keith (L) DH
4. R Greene (L) LF
5. S Torkelson (R) 1B
6. K McGonigle (L) 3B
7. D Dingler (R) C
8. P Meadows (L) CF
9. J Báez (R) SS

Nick Pivetta #27
RHP
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.000 WHIP - Career 69-76, 4.47, 1.27

Padres’ Record (0-0)

Padres' Opening Day Lineup

1. F Tatis Jr. (R) RF
2. X Bogaerts (R) SS
3. M Machado (R) 3B
4. J Merrill (L) CF
5. M Andujar (R) DH
6. G Sheets (L) 1B
7. R Laureano (R) LF
8. F Fermin (R) C
9. J Cronenworth (L) 2B

Other facts and information:

Tigers' all-time record vs. Padres: 19-13 (Including the 1984 World Series.)

Most Opening Day Starts by Position:

Detroit Tigers
1B - Norm Cash (12)
2B - Lou Whitaker (17)
3B - Aurelio Rodriguez (7)
SS - Alan Trammell (16)
LF - Bobby Veach (10)
CF - Ty Cobb (10)
RF - Al Kaline (19)
C - Bill Freehan and Oscar Stanage (10)
P - Jack Morris (11)


San Diego Padres
1B - Steve Garvey, Adrian Gonzalez, and Eric Hosmer (5)
2B - (5 players tied with three starts)
3B - Manny Machado (6)
SS - Garry Templeton (9)
LF - Gene Richards (5)
CF - Steve Finley (4)
RF - Tony Gwynn (17)
C - Benito Santiago and Terry Kennedy (6)
P - Randy Jones, Jake Peavy, and Eric Show (4)


Some players who played for the Tigers and the Padres: Mickey Lolich, Fred Lynn, Gary Sheffield, David Wells, Pat Dobson, Johnny Grubb, Rupert Jones, Aurelio Rodriguez, Mark Thurmond, and Earl Wilson.


I would be remiss if I neglected one of the greatest moments in Tigers’ history:

 

[kalinecountry]

The news you've all been waiting for:
Distribution agreements for Detroit SportsNet are starting to be finalized! Comcast/Xfinity will be channel 1262, while Charter/Spectrum will depend on where you’re watching from. More info to come tomorrow morning on additional providers.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HESA6NMXcAAYDA3?format=jpg&name=medium

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/detroit-sportsnet-launches

Stream Tigers games on Detroit SportsNet.
Tigers official site

Kevin McGonigle Speaks to the Media for the First Time as a Major Leaguer. 5 minutes.

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2026/03/the-slow-reveal-how-kevin-mcgonigle-got-the-news-he-was-headed-to-the-big-leagues.html

The slow reveal: How Kevin McGonigle got the news he was headed to the big leagues.
Mlive

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/tigers-padres-2026-opening-day-faq

What to know about Tigers-Padres Opening Day (4:10 p.m. ET).
Tigers official site

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/tarik-skubal-talks-opening-day-start-at-petco-park

Wowed by the stadium as a fan, Skubal ready for 1st start at Petco Park.
Rogers ready to go after freak batting cage incident sent him to concussion protocol.
Tigers official site

On expectation, cautious optimism and lingering fears as Tigers enter pivotal 2026

The Tigers' 2026 season hinges on proving what they can do with, but also without, Tarik Skubal.

motorcitybengals.com

On expectation, cautious optimism and lingering fears as Tigers enter pivotal 2026
Is this the year?
MCBTB

Tigers' debut Opening Day lineup with Kevin McGonigle showcases enviable flexibility

The Tigers' Opening Day lineup features Kevin McGonigle and a world of possibilities.

motorcitybengals.com

Tigers' debut Opening Day lineup with Kevin McGonigle showcases enviable flexibility.
And we're off.
MCBTB

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2026/03/26/detroit-tigers-opening-day-roster-2026-season/89324849007/

Opening Day roster: 1 question for every Tigers player in 2026 season.
Freep

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2026/03/check-out-the-tigers-2026-world-series-odds-and-other-futures-markets-on-mlb-opening-day.html

Check out the Tigers’ 2026 World Series odds and other futures markets on MLB Opening Day.
Mlive

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2026/03/tigers-manager-explains-first-lineup-of-the-season-why-he-kept-javier-baez-at-short.html

Tigers manager explains first lineup of the season, why he kept Javier Baez at short.
Mlive

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2026/03/in-tigers-bullpen-new-arrival-joins-unlikely-fraternity-of-exkorean-league-arms.html

In Tigers’ bullpen, new arrival joins unlikely fraternity of ex–Korean league arms.
Mlive

 

[biggunsbob]

Go Tigers . May miss first few innings walking the dog.

 

[byco42]

All three outs in the inning are Ks and the Tigers still scored 4 runs.

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/tigers-vs-padres/2026/03/26/823325/live

GameDay.

McGonigle busted it open in the 1st inning with a double his first Major League Hit and Two RBI. Tigers 4 - 0.

 

[gotime909]

1 at bat and im already calling McGonigle our best hitter

 

[biggunsbob]

What a sweet swing by Kevin.

 

[biggunsbob]

Dingler misses a hanger.

 

[biggunsbob]

Great base running by Kevin on the bloop single by Meadows.

6-0 Tigers

 

[gotime909]

There you go parker!!

 

[biggunsbob]

RG and his left field foot work.

 

[biggunsbob]

There you go parker!!

He needed any kind of hit.

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/kevin-mcgonigle-hits-two-run-double-on-first-pitch-of-mlb-career

Kevin McGonigle notches 2-run double -- on the 1st pitch of his MLB career!
Tigers official site

 

[gotime909]

Riley still runs like an 85 year old lady

 

[biggunsbob]

Hey Ron
I never knew this and I go to baseball reference all the time.
I was wondering what Kaline did in his major league debut and google said he was a late game defensive replacement for
Jim Delsing in Cf ( June 25th 1953) and flew out in his only plate appearance that game in the 9th. What didn’t know is wore #25 in 1953 and switched to his #6 next season. Tigers were bad in 1953 and
They lost 5-2.

 

[biggunsbob]

Kaboom ! Dingler smoked that ball.
8-0:tigers

 

[coulomb]

F Yeah! McGonigle lightin it up!

 

[gotime909]

Mcgonigle is on pace to join the 3000 hit club by the all star break

 

[biggunsbob]

Baez with a bad throw. Come on JB.

 

[biggunsbob]

Dickerson
“Paint with 98”.