The Detroit Tigers return to Comerica Park on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, for a regular-season home date against the Washington Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET, with Drew Anderson taking the ball for Detroit opposite Washington's Jackson Kent. With the calendar deep into September, every game carries weight in the standings, and this one is no exception. Catch it on Detroit SportsNet or listen on WXYT 97.1 FM.

Detroit Tigers vs. Washington Nationals: Tuesday Night Pitching Matchup

Drew Anderson gets the nod for the Tigers in what figures to be a closely watched start. Pitching deep into September means Anderson is working in high-stakes territory, and how he manages Washington's lineup will set the tone for the entire evening. On the other side, Jackson Kent draws the assignment for the Nationals. Both pitchers are without publicly confirmed ERA or win-loss records entering this preview, so the focus shifts to execution and lineup support rather than historical numbers.

Detroit Tigers Starting Lineup for September 22

• Gleyber Torres — DH
• Hao-Yu Lee — 2B
• Kevin McGonigle — 3B
• Eduardo Valencia — C
• Ben Malgeri — RF
• Max Clark — CF
• Spencer Torkelson — 1B
• Javier Báez — LF
• John Peck — SS

Manager A.J. Hinch has constructed a lineup that puts veteran presence at the top and mixes in several younger contributors in the middle and lower third. Gleyber Torres leads things off at DH, a role that asks him to set the table early. Hao-Yu Lee bats second at second base, and Kevin McGonigle slots in at third hitting cleanup ahead of Eduardo Valencia behind the dish at cleanup. Ben Malgeri in right and Max Clark in center give the Tigers an athletic outfield pairing in the five and six spots. Spencer Torkelson, once viewed as a cornerstone of Detroit's rebuild, hits seventh at first base — a spot in the order that reflects where he stands at this point in the season. Javier Báez and rookie John Peck round out the bottom of the order at left field and shortstop, respectively.

Keys to Watch in Tuesday's Game

Anderson's Command Early

Without a confirmed ERA in hand, the biggest question around Drew Anderson is simply whether he can work efficiently through Washington's lineup in the first three innings. A clean early start would keep Detroit's bullpen fresh for a potential close finish.

Torkelson Finding His Stroke

Hitting seventh is not where the Tigers envisioned Spencer Torkelson when they drafted him. Watch how he handles at-bats against Kent — any sign of the power that made him a top prospect would be a meaningful development this late in the season.

Max Clark's Development

The young center fielder Max Clark continues to accumulate experience at the big-league level. His reads off the bat and plate discipline are worth tracking in every game at this stage of his development.

Prediction

This is a late-September regular-season game between two clubs, and without reliable pitching data on either starter, it is genuinely difficult to project a comfortable margin either way. Detroit has the home-field advantage at Comerica Park, and a lineup with Torres, Lee, and McGonigle at the top gives the Tigers enough to manufacture runs if Anderson keeps Washington off the board early. Tigers win a close one, 4-2.