The Detroit Tigers opened up the penultimate series of the 2026 campaign with a 9-2 victory at Comerica Park — soon to be Fifth Third Park — on Monday night. River Ryan looked good in his debut wearing the Olde English D, while home runs at the bottom of the batting order from Spencer Torkelson and Javier Báez helped fuel the offensive output en route to victory.
Getting the start in Game 2 is right-hander Drew Anderson, who has been a perfectly serviceable member of the Tigers’ pitching staff this
season after spending the majority of his past four seasons pitching in Asia. While a lion’s share of his appearances this year have been out of the bullpen, the 32-year-old has been a member of the starting rotation over his past eight outings, putting up a tidy 2.58 ERA but a less-impressive 4.82 FIP across 38 1/3 innings of work.
For the Nats, left-hander Jackson Kent will make his eighth start of the year in search of just the second quality start of his debut campaign. The 23-year-old has had a rough September so far, posting a brutal 7.62 ERA but a less offensive 4.40 FIP over 13 innings, allowing 16 hits (one home run) and eight walks while striking out 10 and uncorking a wild pitch. Washington has lost five of his seven appearances this season.
Here is a quick look at how the two hurlers match up on paper for the second of the three-game series in Detroit.
Detroit Tigers (74-83) vs. Washington Nationals (73-84)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: Federal Baseball
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 158: RHP Drew Anderson (5-6, 3.62 ER) vs. LHP Jackson Kent (1-4, 6.40 ERA)
ANDERSON
KENT
