Kenta Maeda threw two innings in the Tigers' Grapefruit League opener, striking out four batters and validating an offseason of change.

The Detroit Tigers walked-off the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6, on Saturday in the first game of the 2025 Grapefruit League schedule in spring training.

Casey Mize will start the Detroit Tigers' first road exhibition game of the Grapefruit League season. Mize will pitch on Sunday in Tampa against the New York Yankees. Manager A.J. Hinch previously announced that Kenta Maeda would start Saturday’s opener in Lakeland against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Veteran right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda will start the Detroit Tigers' Grapefruit League opener on Saturday afternoon, manager A.J. Hinch announced on Wednesday. It’s the latest indication that the Tigers plan to give Maeda every opportunity to win a spot in the starting rotation after he struggled through much of 2024.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal and right-hander Kenta Maeda were talking Sunday morning about splitters on the TigerTown backfields.

The Detroit Tigers will open up their Grapefruit League slate on Saturday with a date with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Tigers signed Kenta Maeda in December of 2023, and his freshman season in Detroit left much to be desired.

Maeda was throwing 92 mph during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. It's up from the 90.8 mph he averaged with his four-seamer last season and significantly more velocity than he was showing during spring training last year.

Tigers' manager AJ Hinch has explained why he elected Kenta Maeda as the team's starting pitcher for the Cactus League opener.

Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5-5, 3.24 ERA) vs. Guardians RHP Spencer Howard (1-1, 5.63). Weather: Low 80s and mostly sunny. • Box score Tigers lineup: TBD. WHAT TO DO WITH MAEDA: Detroit Tigers' Kenta Maeda has 7.