The Tigers will open the 2026 season on the road again, starting March 26 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
It’s becoming a familiar pattern for Detroit. Just like this past season, they’re kicking things off against an NL West contender on the West Coast.
The Tigers won’t see Comerica Park for a while. They’ll play their first six games out west – three against the Padres, then three more with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Detroit’s home opener is April 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals. That means the Tigers haven’t had a true Opening Day at home since 2022, and that streak continues.
What makes this schedule interesting is the heavy interleague focus early on. Nine of Detroit’s first 13 games come against National League teams, and they’ll play 10 of their first 13 games away from home.
After hosting the Cardinals, Detroit heads right back on the road for a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins. So much for settling in at home.
The way I see it, this schedule front-loads the challenge. Detroit faces four of it’s first five series against NL opponents, which means they’re dealing with different pitching styles and unfamiliar lineups right out of the gate.
Before the All-Star break, the Tigers get just eight series against AL teams. The break starts July 13, right after they finish a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies – who happen to be hosting the Midsummer Classic next summer.
It’s a tough way to start a season, but Detroit showed in 2024 that they can handle adversity. The question is whether this early schedule helps them build momentum or makes it harder to find their rhythm at home.
