SAN DIEGO -- Surely, the Tigers and Padres would be happy enough if their seasons were to end with a 1984 World Series rematch. At the very least, their 2026 seasons will start that way.
Detroit and San Diego square off in a three-game series beginning Thursday afternoon at Petco Park -- an intriguing Interleague matchup to open the 2026 season.
Here’s what you need to know:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch is slated for 4:10 p.m. ET/1:10 PT.
Tigers: Detroit SportsNet, MLB app
Padres: Padres.TV
All out-of-market games are available live or on demand in the US on MLB.TV (subject to blackouts and other restrictions). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. A full list of available games can be found here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Tigers: After an offseason of trade intrigue and a Spring Training of World Baseball Classic drama, Tarik Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA) gets to tune out the noise and focus on an opposing lineup. The 29-year-old has faced the Padres only once in his career, tossing six innings with two unearned runs on three hits in a no-decision on July 27, 2022 at Comerica Park. Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth are the only Padres left from San Diego’s starting lineup that day.
The Padres hit lefties worse than righties last year but can stack their lineup with right-handed batters, including Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos. But it’ll matter little unless they can figure out how to hit Skubal’s elite changeup, a great equalizer of a pitch that’s nasty as ever judging by Spring Training. His fastball reached 99 mph in Spring Training, and he’s working on using his curveball to freeze batters gearing up for his velocity.
Skubal took the loss for the Tigers on Opening Day last year at Dodger Stadium, where a pair of homers saddled him with four runs over five innings along with a walk and two strikeouts. He lost his first two starts last season, both on the West Coast, then went 10-0 with a 1.62 ERA over his next 16 outings.
Padres: The Padres were the final team to announce their Opening Day starter, but when they did, it came as no surprise whatsoever. Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA) was a steadying presence and a force in their rotation last year. He posted the best season of his career, then earned the nod in Game 1 of the postseason.
Pivetta is somewhat familiar with the Tigers from his time in the American League. But he was a different pitcher then, and those were different Tigers teams. Nonetheless, Pivetta owns a 2.33 ERA in five career outings against Detroit.
It was a bit of a rough spring for Pivetta, who dealt with some early arm fatigue and posted poor numbers overall. But, well, those were Cactus League outings. In 17 starts at Petco Park last season, Pivetta posted a 2.36 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP.
What might the starting lineups look like?
Tigers: Top prospect Kevin McGonigle could become the leadoff hitter before long, but don’t be surprised if manager A.J. Hinch eases him into the big leagues with a lower spot in the order for now. While Hinch tinkered with various options at leadoff during Spring Training, the heart of the lineup is fairly consistent, with maybe a tweak or two in the order of Greene, Torkelson and Carpenter.
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Matt Vierling, RF
- Riley Greene, LF
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Kerry Carpenter, DH
- Dillon Dingler, C
- Colt Keith, 3B
- Parker Meadows, CF
- Kevin McGonigle, SS
Padres: There’s been plenty of interest regarding where Fernando Tatis Jr. might hit this season. New Padres manager Craig Stammen has indicated he might be moved from the leadoff spot.
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Jackson Merrill, CF
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
- Ramón Laureano, LF
- Jake Cronenworth, 2B
- Nick Castellanos, DH
- Miguel Andujar, 1B
- Freddy Fermin, C
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Tigers: Before the Tigers splurged on their rotation in the late stages of the offseason, they built a bullpen deep in closing experience by adding free agent Kenley Jansen and retaining Kyle Finnegan. Though Hinch embraces his reputation for not formally naming a closer and using his late-inning relievers as much by opposing lineups as by inning, Jansen is expected to get the bulk of the opportunities in the ninth. Finnegan thrived in an anytime/anywhere kind of role down the stretch last season, while Will Vest has done just about every role in his Tiger tenure. Add in lefty Tyler Holton, and the core of the bullpen is impressive.
Beyond that quartet, the Tigers have a bevy of multi-inning relievers who can thrive in situations. Drew Anderson was one of the bright spots of camp, while Enmanuel De Jesus’ dominant WBC performance for Venezuela put him on the cusp of the Opening Day roster.
Padres: Even with the departure of Robert Suarez, the Padres boast what -- on paper, at least -- looks like the best bullpen in baseball. Mason Miller will have the ninth after a dominant run at the World Baseball Classic. Adrian Morejon serves as the primary lefty set-up option.
Any injuries of note?
Tigers: Compared to this time last year, when the Tigers lost outfielders Meadows, Vierling and Wenceel Pérez to injuries and had to scramble for reinforcements, Detroit’s roster has emerged from Spring Training remarkably healthy. Backup catcher Jake Rogers is questionable for the Opening Day roster after suffering a mild concussion last week. Troy Melton is out until at least late May after experiencing right elbow inflammation.
Padres: Sung-Mun Song’s absence shook up the Padres’ bench mix a bit. Song is still dealing with the effects of a right oblique strain he sustained during the offseason. Ty France earned a bench spot in his place, though France doesn’t bring anywhere near the same level of versatility. As such, Jake Cronenworth will serve as the backup at shortstop, with France capable of sliding to second in a pinch.
Who is hot and who is not?
Tigers: Vierling was one of the bright spots of camp, batting .304 (14-for-46) with five doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs in Grapefruit League play entering Tuesday’s play. Anderson allowed one run over 13 innings with 17 strikeouts. Meadows recovered from a miserable start with help from a swing adjustment, but still hit .222 (10-for-45) with six walks and 12 strikeouts entering Tuesday’s play.
Padres: Cronenworth mashed all spring, batting .333 (and even hitting an opposite-field home run). Gavin Sheets tied for the team lead with four spring homers. Meanwhile, Manny Machado hit just .111 in nine Cactus League games.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• The Tigers hold a 15-12 edge over the Padres in their all-time regular-season series, which, of course, does not count Detroit’s five-game victory in the 1984 Fall Classic.
• This marks the first time the Padres will open a season with an Interleague matchup. The Tigers have opened with Interleague opponents on four previous occasions, including at Dodger Stadium last year.
• The Padres will wear a patch with the No. 35 on it this season to honor legendary left-hander Randy Jones, who passed away in November at the age of 75.
• Machado’s eighth Opening Day start for the Padres will tie him with Wil Myers for third in franchise history, behind only Tony Gwynn (18) and Garry Templeton (nine).
• At 21 years, 220 days old, McGonigle will be the youngest player to start for the Tigers on Opening Day since Omar Infante opened the 2003 season at shortstop at 21 years, 95 days old. McGonigle also joins Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Alan Trammell and Harry Heilmann and Tigers legend Lou Whitaker among Tigers to start on Opening Day before their 22nd birthday.