Recap: Tigers lose, 4-0, to Rays on Opening Day
The Tigers started the 2023 season picking up right where they left off: with an anemic offense and solid pitching. The result is a familiar-feeling 4-0 Opening Day loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Eduardo Rodriguez was pretty good. He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs, two of which scored while Jason Foley was on the mound. The offense, well, it's still bad. Austin Meadows had a three-hit day in his return to Tampa, but that was pretty much it.
The Tigers will have tomorrow off before they take on the Rays in Game 2 on Saturday.
Ballgame
Tigers lose on Opening Day to the Rays, 4-0.
End 8th
Englert rebounds after the leadoff homer. On to the ninth, where the Tigers will look to mount a comeback.
Rays tack another one on
Rule 5 pick Mason Englert is on for his MLB debut and is greeted rudely by Wander Franco. He hits a solo shot to make it 4-0 Rays.
Mid 8th
Greene walked with two outs, but Eric Haase popped out again to to end the inning. The Tigers are in danger of being shut out on Opening Day.
End 7th
Nice Tigers debut for lefty Chasen Shreve. Walked a batter but also struck out a couple.
Mid 7th
Manuel Margot with a diving grab to rob Ryan Kreidler of extra bases and likely two RBIs. That one stings. Tigers still scoreless.
End 6th
Foley finally gets the double play. Tigers down 3-0 after six.
Luke Raley RBI single
Luke Raley with a pinch-hit RBI single. Foley got the ground ball he wanted, but it found a hole. 3-0 Rays.
Arozarena RBI single
Randy Arozarena with an RBI single off Jason Foley to make it 2-0 Rays.
E-rod is done
Eduardo Rodriguez is pulled after 5.1 innings pitched. He leaves with runners on first and second and one out. Jason Foley enters, looking for a double play ball.
Mid 6th
Another 1-2-3 inning. That might be it for McClanahan, which would be nice for Tigers hitters.
End 5th
Five really good innings from Eduardo Rodriguez. He's retired nine in a row. Now he just needs some help from his offense. Tigers still down 1-0.
Mid 5th
McClanahan with a 1-2-3 fifth. He's cruising. Five shutout innings.
End 4th
1-2-3 inning for E-rod. Tigers still down 1-0 after 4.
Mid 4th
Miggy grounded into an inning-ending double play after a one-out single by Austin Meadows.
End 3rd
E-rod responds nicely from the homer. Three quick outs. Tigers down 1-0 after three.
Rays strike first
Jose Siri crushes a 1-1 cutter from E-rod. Right down the chute. Rays take a 1-0 lead over Tigers in the bottom of the third.
Mid 3rd
Tigers got a Javy Baez walk (yes, you read that correctly) and a Riley Greene infield single with two outs, but Eric Haase popped out on the very next pitch. Still scoreless.
End 2nd
E-rod with a two-out walk, but gets out of the inning on the very next pitch. Still no score.
Mid 2nd
Tigers strand a one-out double from Austin Meadows.
End 1st
Randy Arozarena hit a frozen rope to left field but it was right at Austin Meadows. E-rod allows a single, but that's it. On to the second inning, no score.
Mid 1st
Javy Baez with a single, but nothing more. Scoreless first for the Tigers.
First pitch
The Rays have taken the field and McClanahan is ready to deliver. The 2023 season is about to begin. Play ball.
Pregame and lineups
The Detroit Tigers begin the 2023 season and the Scott Harris era in St. Petersburg, as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Eduardo Rodriguez will get the Opening Day nod on the mound for the second straight year. The Rays will counter with lefty Shane McClanahan, who was an All-Star a year ago.
There's nothing quite like Opening Day. Baseball is back, ladies and gentlemen.
Here's the Tigers' Opening Day lineup:
- Matt Vierling, RF
- Javier Baez, SS
- Riley Greene, CF
- Eric Haase, C
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Austin Meadows, LF
- Miguel Cabrera, DH
- Jonathan Schoop, 2B
- Ryan Kreidler, 3BEduardo Rodriguez, P
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel.
Tigers at Rays
First pitch: 3:10 p.m. Thursday, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
TV/radio: BSD/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, Tigers: Coming off a broken season last year, he’s been a man on a mission this spring. He was brilliant in his five spring starts and started in one of Team Venezuela’s wins in the WBC. His command, especially with his four-seam fastball, sinker and cutter, has been as precise this spring as it was at any point last season.
LHP Shane McClanahan, Rays: He made his big-league debut in the playoffs in 2020. He was the American League’s starter in the All-Star game last year. This will be his second Opening Day start. And he’s not even 26 yet. In 53 career starts, he’s 22-14 with a 2.92 ERA and 335 strikeouts in 289⅔ innings. He got hitters to chase on 32% of their swings last season, and got them to whiff on 34% of them. Nasty.