Opening day is finally here for the Detroit Tigers, who start the 2025 Major League Baseball campaign out west against the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers. It is a heck of a way to follow up the franchise’s first playoff visit since 2014.

Manager AJ Hinch enters his fifth season at the helm of the Olde English D looking to at least replicate — if not exceed — last season’s performance. While the team brings a formidable starting rotation into play this year, the rest of the roster still leaves a lot of unanswered questions, as well as injuries that hopefully get figured out along the way.

The good news is that the Motor City Kitties will have their reigning Cy Young Award winner taking the bump to open things up. But it will not be easy, as L.A.’s starter is pretty darned good as well. Take a look below at how things line up for Thursday night’s MLB affair.

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

Time (ET): 7:10 p.m. ET

Place: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

SB Nation Site: True Blue LA

Media: ESPN, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR Skubal (2024) 192.0 30.3 4.6 2.45 5.9 Snell (2024) 104.0 34.7 10.5 2.43 3.1 .

Game 1: LHP Tarik Skubal (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Blake Snell (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

SKUBAL (2024)

SNELL (2024)

The Dodgers have already played a pair of games in Tokyo, taking both games of the series against the Chicago Cubs. Los Angeles scored a total of 10 runs on 14 hits — including five doubles and three home runs — while drawing 15 walks and striking out 18 times.

Skubal will be looking to start strong as he defends his AL Cy Young trophy, but his opponent’s offense has already had a chance to warm up. Hopefully, he can keep the L.A. bats at bay and his offense can put a few up on the board to lead the Tigers to victory.