Opening Day in San Diego is here, and the San Diego Padres will be tested right away by a talented Detroit Tigers squad at Petco Park.
The spotlight is on ace Tarik Skubal, who gets the ball for Detroit after a Cy Young season. He’ll face Nick Pivetta in what should be a strong Opening Day pitching matchup.
The Tigers also bring in Framber Valdez to bolster a rotation that could be among the league’s best, while a young core led by Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson continues to develop offensively.
Add in the return of veteran Justin Verlander, and Detroit enters 2026 with a mix of star power and experience.
For San Diego, it’s an early-season challenge against a team with serious upside—and a chance to start the year with a statement win.
