The San Diego Padres’ season did not get off to the best start possible as they suffered an 8-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Things started poorly for the Padres as starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, who was the team’s best pitcher during the 2025 season, walked in a run at the top of the first inning after his third walk of the inning. Pivetta would allow a total of four runs during the first inning before the Padres bats had a chance to come to the plate.
Things did not improve from that point on, as reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal dominated on the mound. Skubal allowed only one run on three hits as he struck out six Padres batters over six innings. Meanwhile, Pivetta left the game after only three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks.
San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts Gets Brutally Honest
San Diego Padres’ shortstop Xander Bogaerts was among the top performers for the team during the loss as he went 2-for-4 with a double and the only RBI off Skubal. Following the game, he was asked about the team’s disappointing result. Bogaerts said, “We obviously wanted to start 1-0 but it just got out of hand a little early and Nick didn’t pitch the way he normally pitches.”
Bogaerts added, “He was close to being as sharp as he normally is, and that kind of sucked a little bit for him. He normally commands all of his pitches pretty well, but today he couldn’t go to any one of them. Any one of his pitches were very unlike him. He’ll bounce back, I mean he’s Nick.”
The honesty from Bogaerts regarding Pivetta’s performance stands out as he appears to be taking more of a leadership role in his fourth season with the Padres.
Bogaerts, who has had an up-and-down Padres tenure, displayed positive signs in the team’s first game of the season. Aside from his two hits, his two outs also showed positive signs as they were a 108 mph lineout with a .700 xBA, and a 101.7 mph lineout with a .510 xBA.
During 2025, Bogaerts had a strong second half of the season, as he posted a .301 batting average and an .831 OPS over his last 64 games. If he played at that level for a full season, he would have totaled over 20 home runs, and played at a similar level to his Red Sox days.
Nick Pivetta’s Start
Regarding his poor start, Pivetta told reporters, “Disconnected, out of rhythm, didn’t make pitches when I needed to.”
With Joe Musgrove starting the season on the injured list, the Padres need more out of Pivetta. Last season, Pivetta posted a 2.87 ERA across 181.2 innings; however, both of those were career-bests for him. Some regression is likely to be expected, but if the Padres postseason aspirations are to come true, they likely need him to be a capable frontline starter.
Last season, Pivetta’s shortest outing came against the Cubs, where he struggled to command his pitches. On that occasion, he went only three innings and allowed three runs. His six earned runs matched the most he’s allowed since joining the Padres.
Padres’ Xander Bogaerts Gets Brutally Honest After Opening Day Loss