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

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.

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

When he ended the 2024 season in the bullpen, Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda was told he would compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Luckily, that was some motivation he truly needed. After ending the 2024 season horrifically,

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.

If A.J. Hinch rewards the players who do well in spring training, this is what the Detroit Tigers Opening Day starting rotation might look like.

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.