The San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers will square off in Game 2 of their three-game set on April 22, 2025, at Comerica Park, with both teams entering the contest carrying early-season promise and postseason aspirations. The Tigers emerged victorious in Game 1, taking a hard-fought 6-4 win behind a combination of clutch offense and a resilient bullpen performance that held off a late Padres push. That loss ended San Diego’s three-game winning streak, but the Padres still sit comfortably atop the NL West with a 16-7 record and one of the most balanced rosters in Major League Baseball. On the other side, Detroit has started the year strong as well, improving to 14-9 with the series-opening win and continuing their early dominance in the AL Central. The matchup on Tuesday presents an intriguing battle of momentum and matchups—two teams with deep lineups, productive starters, and bullpens that can hold a lead if handed one. It will also serve as a key test for how these clubs manage the grind of interleague play, especially given the contrasting styles of power-heavy San Diego and the contact-oriented, opportunistic Tigers offense. San Diego enters Game 2 with Nick Pivetta set to take the mound, and the veteran right-hander has been superb early in 2025. Pivetta owns a 3-1 record with a sparkling 1.57 ERA, striking out 24 batters over 23 innings while limiting hard contact and attacking the zone with confidence. His ability to pitch deep into games has helped stabilize the Padres’ rotation, and he’ll be relied upon to quiet a Tigers lineup that’s growing in confidence. Offensively, the Padres have been led by the dynamic Fernando Tatis Jr., who continues to perform at an MVP-caliber level with a .351 average, six home runs, and a .636 slugging percentage.

He’s been complemented by Manny Machado’s consistency and Luis Arraez’s elite contact hitting from the leadoff spot. Even with a loss in Game 1, the Padres showed the kind of competitive edge that’s allowed them to thrive in tight games all season—they’ve covered the run line in 11 of 14 contests, and their late-game execution has been a major reason why. The Tigers counter with Jack Flaherty on the mound, and he’s been one of the more quietly effective arms in the American League. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .184 batting average across 21.1 innings, showing the kind of command and composure that made him a breakout star earlier in his career. Detroit’s offense may not be as explosive as San Diego’s, but it’s been timely—sparked by Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson in the middle of the order, and supported by depth pieces who grind out tough at-bats and manufacture runs. Game 1’s win was emblematic of the Tigers’ style: build an early lead, rely on solid starting pitching, and turn it over to a bullpen that has quietly become one of the better groups in the league. Still, they’ve struggled to cover at home, failing to do so in four of their last five at Comerica, and if they want to keep pace in the AL Central, stringing together wins against elite competition like San Diego is critical. Tuesday’s matchup promises a blend of power, pitching, and pace, and it could come down to whichever starter can work more efficiently through six innings and set the tone in a series that feels like it could swing in either direction.