If you’re checking your phone right now for a score for Detroit Tigers game, you might be a few weeks too early—or still recovering from the absolute emotional car crash that was the end of the 2025 season. As of today, January 17, 2026, the bats are quiet. The dirt at Comerica Park is likely frozen solid.
We are officially in that weird, quiet pocket of the MLB offseason where "score" usually refers to arbitration settlements rather than home runs.
But honestly, if you're a Tigers fan, the lack of a live score right now is probably a relief. The way last year ended? It wasn't just a loss; it was a historic slide that left most of Michigan staring blankly at their TVs. One minute, Detroit was 25 games over .500 in July, cruising with a 59-34 record. The next, they were barely scraping into the Wild Card after a 7-17 September collapse that saw a 15.5-game division lead evaporate into the hands of the Cleveland Guardians.
When Is the Next Actual Detroit Tigers Game?
You’ve got about a month to wait. If you need to mark your calendar for the first real score for Detroit Tigers game in 2026, here is the immediate outlook.
The Tigers are heading back to Lakeland, Florida, very soon. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 11, 2026. The first full-squad workout hits on February 15.
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- First Spring Training Game: February 21, 2026, against the New York Yankees in Tampa.
- Home Opener (Spring): February 22, 2026, vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium.
- Regular Season Opening Day: March 26, 2026.
Basically, we are in the "hope and hype" phase. The 2025 season finished with the Tigers at 87-75, which sounds decent on paper until you realize they were basically the best team in baseball for three months and then one of the worst for the final six weeks. They did manage to beat Cleveland in the Wild Card round—revenge is a dish best served in October, I guess—but then they lost a heartbreaker 15-inning Game 5 to the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.
The Tarik Skubal Factor and the Current Roster Drama
You can't talk about a Tigers score without talking about the guy who usually keeps the opponent's score at zero. Tarik Skubal.
Skubal was a monster in 2025. He led the American League with a 2.21 ERA and sat everyone down with 241 strikeouts. He’s the undisputed engine of this team. However, the "score" off the field right now is a bit tense. As of early January 2026, Skubal and the Tigers were still apart on arbitration numbers. It’s the kind of business-side friction that makes fans nervous, especially with Scott Harris trying to balance a young core with the need for high-end veterans.
The rotation behind him is a bit of a "wait and see" situation. Casey Mize actually stayed healthy and won 14 games last year—huge win for his career—but the loss of Jackson Jobe to Tommy John surgery last June still hurts. Jobe isn't expected back until the second half of 2026.
Who is actually in the lineup?
When the 2026 scores start rolling in, expect to see these names doing the heavy lifting:
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- Riley Greene: The undisputed heart of the order. He smashed 36 homers last year. He’s the guy you want at the plate when the game is on the line.
- Kerry Carpenter: Still the "Lefty Masher" extraordinaire. He put up 26 homers last year and just signed a $3.275 million deal to avoid arbitration.
- Spencer Torkelson: He’s been a rollercoaster, but he did hit 31 home runs in 2025. The Tigers need him to be more "August Tork" and less "May Tork."
- Javier Báez: Look, we have to talk about Javy. He had a bizarrely great first half last year (hitting nearly .290) before falling off a cliff in September with a chase rate over 50%. He’s still here, and his glove is still elite, but his bat is the ultimate wild card.
Why the 2025 Collapse Still Matters for 2026
If you’re looking for a score for Detroit Tigers game because you’re wondering if they can finally win the Central, you have to look at why they failed last year.
The bullpen was gassed. Tyler Holton made 70 appearances. Will Vest and Brenan Hanifee were used constantly because the mid-season acquisitions—specifically Chris Paddack and Charlie Morton—didn't provide the innings the front office hoped for.
Scott Harris has been busy this month. They brought back Bryan Sammons on a minor-league deal after he spent a year in Japan. They’re also looking at the international market, recently signing guys like Manuel Bolivar and Oscar Tineo. It’s clear they are trying to build depth so that if a September slide starts in 2026, they actually have the arms to stop the bleeding.
Keeping Track of the 2026 Season
When the season starts, the way you digest a score for Detroit Tigers game will likely change. Major League Baseball is leaning harder into real-time Statcast data. You won't just see "Tigers 4, Guardians 2." You'll see the exit velocity of Riley Greene’s double and the spin rate on Skubal’s changeup in the same feed.
Honestly, the AL Central is going to be a dogfight again. The Guardians aren't going anywhere, and the Royals have built a sneaky good roster around Bobby Witt Jr. For the Tigers to stay on top of the scoreboard, they need their young infielders—Colt Keith and Jace Jung—to take that "Year 2" leap.
Actionable Steps for Tigers Fans Right Now
Since there is no live score to check today, here is how you can prepare for the 2026 season:
- Check the Spring Training Schedule: If you’re planning a trip to Lakeland, tickets for games at Joker Marchant Stadium are already on sale. The home opener against the Orioles on February 22 will be the first chance to see the new roster additions in action.
- Monitor the Skubal Contract: Keep an eye on the news cycle through late January. If this goes to a full arbitration hearing, it could set a weird tone for spring training. A long-term extension would be the "score" of the winter.
- Follow the Prospects: Watch the box scores for the Lakeland Flying Tigers and Toledo Mud Hens once April hits. With Jackson Jobe out, the Tigers need someone like Ty Madden or Troy Melton to step up and prove they can handle a major league rotation spot.
The 2025 season was a wild ride that ended in a ditch, but the talent is undeniably there. We're just a few weeks away from meaningful pitches again.