SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The Detroit Tigers, defying preseason projections with an offensive explosion, routed the San Diego Padres 8-2 on Thursday afternoon at PETCO Park to open the 2026 Major League Baseball season.

A crowd of 45,673 watched as the Tigers, installed as narrow favorites but given only a 44.1 percent win probability by analytics models, dismantled the Padres from the outset. Detroit battered San Diego starter Nick Pivetta for six runs on seven hits before he recorded his seventh out, setting a dominant tone that never wavered.

The most important part of the game was the immediate and decisive first-inning onslaught by the Tigers. After an initial strikeout, they loaded the bases on a walk to Gleyber Torres and singles by Colt Keith and Riley Greene. Spencer Torkelson worked a walk to force in the first run. Then, rookie third baseman Kevin McGonigle, in his first major league at-bat, laced a two-run double down the right-field line. Catcher Dillon Dingler followed with an RBI single, capping a four-run, four-hit frame that gave ace Tarik Skubal all the support he would need.

Skubal, the Tigers’ winning pitcher, was brilliant in his season debut. The left-hander tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six and walking none. He expertly navigated early traffic, stranding two Padres in the first inning, and retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced. His performance stifled any hope of a San Diego comeback after the early deficit.

Detroit added two more runs in the third inning. Torkelson and McGonigle led off with back-to-back hits, and Parker Meadows brought them both home with a two-out single to left field, extending the lead to 6-0.

The Tigers’ power display concluded their scoring in the fifth. After McGonigle singled with one out, Dingler launched a two-run homer to left-center field off reliever David Morgan, making it 8-0.

San Diego avoided the shutout with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Fernando Tatis Jr. reached on a throwing error by shortstop Javier Báez and scored on an RBI double by Xander Bogaerts. In the seventh, Ramón Laureano hit a solo home run off Tigers reliever Drew Anderson.

The Padres threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs against Anderson and Tyler Holton, but Will Vest entered and induced an inning-ending flyout from pinch-hitter Nick Castellanos. Vest then worked a perfect ninth to seal the victory.

McGonigle was the offensive standout for Detroit, finishing 4 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Dingler went 2 for 5 with the home run and three RBIs. The Tigers amassed 12 hits total.

Pivetta took the loss for San Diego, his record falling to 0-1 after surrendering six earned runs in just 2.1 innings. Padres relievers Bradgley Rodriguez, Morgan and Wandy Peralta combined for 5.2 innings of one-run ball, but the damage was done.

The Tigers’ bullpen, aside from Anderson’s lone earned run, provided three scoreless innings from Vest, Holton and Drew Anderson. Detroit’s defense turned in several sharp plays, with McGonigle handling five chances cleanly at third base.

The result flipped the script on statistical expectations. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-0 Detroit win, while its ELO system gave San Diego a 55.9 percent chance to win. The combined 10 runs went under the pregame over/under line of 7.5, but the lopsided nature of the contest was unforeseen.

With the win, the Tigers begin the season 1-0, while the Padres start 0-1. The two teams continue their opening series at PETCO Park on Friday night.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Continue their three-game series in San Diego on Friday night.

Padres: Host the Tigers in the second game of the series on Friday.