Padres 2B Jake Cronenworth Humbled by Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal

Cronenworth admits Skubal 'pitched his butt off' in Opening Day loss

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:10am

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San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth had a blunt response after being dominated by Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal on Opening Day. Cronenworth went 0-for-4 with a strikeout as Skubal pitched six scoreless innings, leading the Tigers to an 8-2 win over the Padres. Cronenworth acknowledged that Skubal 'pitched his butt off' despite the Padres having a plan going into the game.

Why it matters

Cronenworth is a key veteran in the Padres lineup, so his struggles against the reigning AL Cy Young winner Skubal are noteworthy. The Padres will hope Cronenworth can bounce back and provide production in the middle of their order as they aim to return to the playoffs.

The details

Skubal, who has won the AL Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons, dominated the Padres lineup, striking out six batters over six scoreless innings. Cronenworth was one of several Padres starters who failed to record a hit, joining Jackson Merrill, Miguel Andujar, Gavin Sheets, and Freddy Fermin. While stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado produced, the Padres need more from their veteran hitters like Cronenworth to compete.

  • The game took place on Opening Day, March 27, 2026.

The players

Jake Cronenworth

A 32-year-old infielder for the San Diego Padres who is counted on to be a key part of their lineup.

Tarik Skubal

The Detroit Tigers ace who has won the AL Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons and dominated the Padres on Opening Day.

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What they’re saying

“It's a challenge. Thought we had a plan going in, but he pitched his butt off.”

— Jake Cronenworth

What’s next

The Padres likely won't face Skubal again until a potential matchup in October, giving Cronenworth time to bounce back from his Opening Day struggles.

The takeaway

Cronenworth's blunt admission that Skubal 'pitched his butt off' highlights the challenge the Padres veteran faces in trying to rebound from his Opening Day struggles. If Cronenworth can regain his form, it would provide a big boost to the Padres' lineup as they aim to return to the playoffs.