As expected, Jake Cronenworth is leading off against the first right-handed starter on the Padres’ schedule for Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. start against the Tigers’ Jack Flaherty.  It’s a job that he held down more regularly in the minors than he has in the majors as the 32-year-old second baseman has just 24 starts in his career atop the order.

Closing out the series. pic.twitter.com/MZWwTdQ7jb

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 28, 2026

Cronenworth last led off in 2023, going 0-for-10 with a walk across two starts. But he’s coming off posting a career-high .367 on-base percentage last year and could present more opportunities for Fernando Tatis Jr. to drive in runs.

“He does a really good job working the working the opposing pitcher, right from the start,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “(He) sees a lot of pitches, fouls a lot of pitches off. Has has the ability to come back to dugout and give a good report on what the guys got, what the pitches are looking like. So we’ve faced Jack Flaherty quite a bit, but just having Croney up at the top gives us that little expert, really good at-bat to start off the game.”

The last time Cronenworth was a regular atop the order was in the minors in 2019 — a year before his trade to San Diego and his MLB debut — as he hit .285/.393/.464 over 179 at-bats.

Cronenworth has starts in every spot in the order and has a .768 OPS in his career against righties.

Tatis started the first two games atop the order against left-handed pitching, but he’ll bat second, followed by Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts will drop down to the five-hole after serving as the No. 2 hitters against lefties.

First baseman Gavin Sheets is back in the lineup, batting sixth ahead of left fielder Ramón Laureano and Nick Castellanos getting his first start of the season as the designated hitter.

Freddy Fermin is back behind the plate and batting ninth after giving way to Luis Campusano on Friday.

Among the starters in Saturday’s lineup, Fermin (0-for-3), Sheets (0-for-4) and Castellanos (0-for-2) are still looking for their first hits of the season.

Here is how the Tigers will line up looking for the sweep:

Jack is back. #DNMW
 
⚾️ 8:40 PM ET
📺 @WatchDSN
📻 @971theticketxyt
🏟️ Petco Park pic.twitter.com/nAJsgCXMle

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 28, 2026

 

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA)

The long-time Cardinal’s losses last year were the most in the NL, while his ERA was his second highest over a full season. Flaherty has a 4.21 ERA in seven regular-season starts against the Padres, including two runs in six innings in a loss last year. Flaherty also has a 3.97 ERA over two postseason starts against the Padres, both losses.

Here is how Flaherty has fared in the regular season against current Padres:

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (6-7, 3.84 ERA)

The fourth-year starter is coming off a career-high 133⅔ innings while spending most of the year in the majors. This year, Vásquez is out of options and can’t go to the minors without being exposed to waivers. Vásquez allowed six runs in two innings in a start last year in Detroit.

Here is how he’s fared against current Tigers: