The Detroit Tigers are back in Comerica Park and it was an amazing day of baseball. The Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4-0 shutout to win their home opening game in 2026. It was an outstanding pitching performance by starting pitcher Framber Valdez.
Detroit opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a 433-foot two-run home run from starting catcher Dillon Dingler. Through seven games, Dingler is the only Detroit hitter with a home run, notching his second of the 2026 MLB season. Then, Riley Greene hit an RBI-single in the fifth inning, followed by another by Javier Baez in the sixth inning.
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After being shutout by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, the Tigers offense bounced back in their home opener at Comerica Park. There were other opportunities for runs as well, as Kevin McGonigle and Kerry Carpenter hit two balls deep into the outfield during the first inning.
Meanwhile, Valdez went six scoreless with three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. The 32-year old starter became the first pitcher to throw a quality start in the home opener since Spencer Turnbull in 2019. Valdez is the first to do so in both the home opener and his home debut for the Tigers since Jordan Zimmermann in 2016.
There were other milestones, such as Greene’s 500th career MLB hit, becoming the 20th player in franchise history to accomplish this feat before 26 years old. It was a much-needed change of pace for the Tigers after being swept by the Diamondbacks.
In fact, the Tigers had the largest crown for a home opener at Comerica Park since 2017. The fans were given a picture-perfect day en route to their first home win of 2026.
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