- The Detroit Tigers lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day by a score of 5-4.
- Tigers ace Tarik Skubal gave up four runs in five innings, including a three-run home run to Teoscar Hernández.
- The Tigers offense struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-15 on the day.
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal — the reigning American League Cy Young winner — left one too many fastballs in the middle of the strike zone.
Two-time All-Star Teoscar Hernández made him pay, crushing a first-pitch fastball for a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Fellow superstars Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts joined Hernández on his trot around the bases after the biggest swing from the reigning World Series champions.
On Opening Day, Skubal’s middle-middle 97 mph fastball to Hernández made the difference on the scoreboard.
The Tigers lost, 5-4, to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in front of 53,595 fans at Dodger Stadium in their 2025 season opener, as Skubal allowed four runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts in five innings. He had just one start with two or fewer strikeouts in his previous 47 outings.
“We had a ton of opportunities,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “And then on the other side, we didn’t keep the ball in the ballpark. It was a well-played game, but if we take care of more opportunities, maybe it’s different.”
Need a break?
Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
BEFORE THE GAME:
Detroit Tigers legend Kirk Gibson throws Opening Day first pitch wearing Dodgers jersey
ROAR OF 125: We have an awesome Detroit Tigers book coming celebrating 125 seasons of epic history
Skubal wasn’t sharp, but he wasn’t to blame for the loss.
The offense failed to deliver in big moments.
The Tigers (0-1) finished 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 runners on base. The offense — not the pitching — let the game slip away, including back-to-back outs in the ninth inning with two runners on.
Colt Keith, who made the final out, struggled at the plate, going 0-for-5 with one strikeout.
Although the Tigers had Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell on the ropes, they couldn’t chase him with a flurry of runs. Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner making his first start for L.A., limited the Tigers to two runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts in five innings.
[ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER! Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis here. ]
The Dodgers struck first in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead on Tommy Edman’s solo home run off Skubal’s middle-middle sinker, another mistake from the southpaw. The Tigers responded by scoring a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly in the fourth and fifth, respectively, before Hernández rocked Skubal for a three-run home run, taking a 4-2 advantage.
“You throw the ball in the middle, it’s dangerous,” Hinch said, “especially against this team.”
Skubal threw 80 pitches.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigerspodcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
PURR-FECT GAME: This Detroit Tigers Opening Day means so much more to me after a summer in the hospital
Spencer Torkelson hits first home run
Spencer Torkelson — the 2020 No. 1 overall pick — pulled the Tigers closer to the Dodgers in the seventh inning, turning on an up-and-in fastball from left-handed reliever Alex Vesia for a solo home run to left field.
It was the Tigers’ first homer in the 2025 season.
The big swing from Torkelson cut the Tigers’ deficit to 4-3.
“Every single thing at the plate for him was really good,” Hinch said.
From there, the Tigers and Dodgers traded runs: Ohtani smacked a solo home run off right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee in the seventh; Kerry Carpenter provided a sacrifice fly off left-handed reliever Tanner Scott in the eighth.
The Tigers trailed 5-4 entering the ninth inning, with Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Torkelson due up to face right-handed reliever Blake Treinen.
There were runners on first and second with one out after Torres’ single and Torkelson’s walk, but pinch-hitter Trey Sweeney — whom the Tigers acquired from the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline — struck out swinging on a sweeper below the zone, and Keith then popped out to end the game.
Torkelson finished 1-for-1 with one homer and four walks in five trips to the plate.
Ryan Kreidler answers questions
Ryan Kreidler, a shortstop by trade, started in center field for the first time in the big leagues, as the Tigers are without their top three center fielders to injuries. Before Opening Day, the 27-year-old had just three innings in center throughout his 72-game MLB career, spanning parts of three seasons.
“Everybody got to see what we hope he can do consistently,” Hinch said.
Kreidler robbed Edman of extra bases in the fourth inning, covering 103 feet to right-center before making a diving catch on the warning track.
Skubal raised his arms in celebration.
The fly ball had a 50% catch probability.
“It was a spectacular play,” Hinch said, “because of the jump, the route, the fearlessness to go to the track, the sellout for the catch. It’s something he can bring to the ballpark every day.”
Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel contributed to this report.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
