PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- It began well enough, but the Grapefruit League debut for Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd did not end similarly.

A potential candidate as the Tigers' Opening Day starter, Boyd threw 38 pitches in Detroit's 14-4 win over a Mets split squad on Tuesday.

"The goal today was really stick with the fastball and work that changeup," Boyd said. "We did that, and I was happy with it."

Falling behind 2-0 on the first batter he faced, Mets DH Brandon Nimmo, Boyd fought back to strike him out. He gave up a two-out single to Robinson Cano and fell behind 3-0 vs. close friend Michael Conforto, before coming all the way back to strike out his former college teammate at Oregon State.

"He was talking some smack coming up to it," Boyd said. "I was just holding off. I was trying to get him with fastballs this time. I threw a good one there at the end. Can't say I didn't give him heaters right out of the chute.

"But it's fun competing against him. It didn't happen a lot for a while there. I'm glad I came out on that side of it because he's a heck of a player. He's one of the best players in the game in my opinion. He's only going to continue to bolster himself."

Boyd didn't make it out of the second inning. He yielded a one-out single and a walk before Rajai Davis deposited an RBI double down the left-field line, spelling the end to Boyd's spring debut.

"He was OK, a little bit rushed," said Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire. "First time out, probably rushed himself a little bit. Didn't stay back like he normally does, but it's all about getting the work in, facing hitters from another team for the first time. He's healthy, he looks great. The ball is coming out of his hand. He just misfired, which he doesn't normally do."

His official line: 1 1/3 innings, three hits and two runs allowed with two strikeouts and a walk.

"I definitely have some things to tighten up," Boyd said. "I was a little up today. I need to work on throwing the ball down hill a little bit more. But it was a good first [outing].

"There were probably some circumstances where I should have thrown the changeup, maybe," he added. "I rolled with the heater maybe a little too long. But all in all I was happy with it."

Boyd is hoping to build on last year's success, coming off a career-best 31 starts and 159 strikeouts in 2018. It was the second-most strikeouts in a season by a Tigers left-hander since 1974, when Mickey Lolich fanned 202.

Opponents hit just .228 off Boyd last season. After the All-Star break, Boyd ranked seventh in the American League in WHIP (1.08) and 10th in opponents' batting average (.230).

"I had success last year once I established my heater," Boyd said. "That was later in the season. My slider and curveball were real good for me all year. My changeup was probably my least used offspeed pitch."