The San Diego Padres head into Detroit riding a hot streak, but their roster is battered as they face the Tigers in a crucial early-season matchup. San Diego, boasting a 16-6 record and led by Fernando Tatis Jr.—who tops the team in runs, home runs, and batting average—will look to keep momentum despite a growing list of injuries.
Key starters Jake Cronenworth, Jackson Merrill, and Jason Heyward are sidelined, and the situation worsened when Luis Arraez suffered a concussion after a collision in Houston. Arraez is expected out until at least April, leaving the Padres’ lineup thinner than usual.
Detroit, meanwhile, sits at 13-9 with an impressive 8-2 home record. The Tigers have the edge in recent head-to-head matchups, winning four of their last five against San Diego. Spencer Torkelson anchors their offense, already tallying seven home runs and RBIs.
Both teams have matched each other in power, each with home runs this season, but San Diego’s pitching staff holds a slight ERA advantage at.7 compared to Detroit’s.12.
With the Padres’ depth tested and the Tigers strong at home, tonight’s game promises suspense—and could set the tone for the rest of the series.
