The Detroit Tigers got a few different glimpses of the future on Monday, Sept. 21, before and during the series opener against the Washington Nationals at Comerica Park.
On the same day the Tigers revealed the new name of their ballpark
(Fifth Third Field, beginning in 2027), right-hander River Ryan – one of the three prospects who joined the organization in August in the Tarik Skubal trade – made his first start with Detroit.Ryan struck out three batters in three scoreless innings, which were followed by four scoreless from right-hander Keider Montero in a Tigers' 9-2 win over Washington. Yohandy Morales hit a home run off left-hander Drew Sommers in the eighth, for the Nationals' only offense.
Jung gets callup from Tigers
Ryan earned his first win as a Tiger thanks to early run support from rookies Hao-Yu Lee and Eduardo Valencia, who both drove in a run in the first inning. Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson belted two-run home runs, while Ben Malgeri broke the game open with a three-run home run in the fifth.
The Tigers (74-83), already eliminated from playoff contention, have five games remaining in the 2026 season.
On the mound: River Ryan's scoreless Tigers debut
Ryan returned to the majors for the first time since 2024, when he went 1-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts with LA, allowing only three runs with 18 strikeouts in 20⅓ innings.
This time around, he immediately showcased his arsenal by striking out All-Star left fielder James Wood with a 92 mph changeup below the zone in the game's first at-bat.
Ryan threw 14 pitches in the first inning, setting down the top of the Nationals' lineup in order. Following a one-out single from Dylan Crews in the second, Ryan issued a four-pitch walk to the next hitter. But he escaped the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.
Jacob Young doubled off Ryan to lead off the third inning, but Ryan retired the next three hitters, including striking out Wood again on a changeup, to end his day without a run. The Tigers planned for a short outing, with Ryan having only thrown limited innings in his time with Triple-A Toledo.
Ryan faced 12 NAts and threw 26 of his 43 pitches for strikes. He generated six whiffs, including three with his changeup. Throwing six different pitches, his four-seam fastball, averaging 96.5 mph, was the most frequent.
"For him, if we see him be himself and feature his stuff, get us some outs – whether it is one time through the order or more – that would be an ideal setup given the journey he's been on this year to get himself healthy," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the start.
Montero struck out five while walking one and allowing no hits in four innings.
At the plate: Fireworks in the fifth inning
Gleyber Torres walked to open the game. After reaching second on a wild pitch, Lee scored him with a ground-rule double. Valencia scored Lee with an RBI single to left field.
Báez doubled the lead with a 426-foot home run, his third of the season, in the fourth inning. Malgeri and Torkelson then broke the game open with a pair of home runs in the fifth inning, giving Detroit a nine-run edge. Malgeri pulled a hanging splitter over the left-field wall, while Torkelson turned on an inside 98.6 mph fastball for his 25th home run.
Malgeri went 2-for-4 with a double and home run and also made a diving catch in right field behind Ryan in the first. Valencia finished with three hits, including two doubles, in four at-bats.
Next up: Another night move
The Tigers and Nationals (73-84) will meet again, in the next-to-last night game of (for now) the Comerica Park era, on Tuesday (6:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet). Tigers right-hander Drew Anderson (5-6, 3.62 ERA) is set to match up with Nationals lefty Jackson Kent (1-4, 6.40).
ContactJared Ramsey at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers tee off on Nationals to back River Ryan in Detroit debut
