The final game of the Detroit Tigers’ 2025 season-opening series out west against the Los Angeles Dodgers takes place on Saturday night as the good guys try to prevent a three-game sweep to open up the schedule.

On Friday night, A.J. Hinch’s squad battled into the wee hours in extra innings but, alas, fell short in an 8-5 final after 10 frames. Mookie Betts got to be the hero for the night, battling into a 3-2 count and then golfing a changeup into the night with a walk-off home run to end the game.

The Tigers also lost the first game, 5-4, but they have at least been close. Maybe Detroit can get over the hump in Game 3 when Reese Olson takes the mound opposite of Rōki Sasaki.

Detroit Tigers (0-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (4-0)

Time (ET): 9:10 p.m. ET

Place: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

SB Nation Site: True Blue LA

Media: FanDuel Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR Olson (2024) 112.1 21.7 7.1 3.17 2.4 Sasaki (2025) 3.0 21.4 35.7 5.33 -0.1

Game 3: RHP Reese Olson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Rōki Sasaki (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

OLSON

SASAKI

Olson’s sophomore season was even better statistically than his impressive rookie campaign, lowering his ERA by nearly a half run and his FIP by almost a full run while throwing 8 2⁄3 more innings. However, his strikeout rate fell slightly while his WHIP rose a touch. The Tigers are counting on him to continue his upward trajectory this summer.

Sasaki made his MLB debut in his home country against the Cubs, but only lasted three scoreless frames while allowing three hits and three walks; he struck out seven batters in that span as well. A consensus preseason pick for the NL Rookie of the Year Award, the rookie from across the sea has a good opportunity to tune up against this Tigers offense on Saturday.