If you are waking up in the middle of January and wondering what time is the Detroit Tigers game today, I have some news that might make you want to crawl back under the covers.
There isn’t one.
Right now, it is January 16, 2026. If you look out the window in Metro Detroit, you're likely seeing gray skies and slush rather than the manicured green grass of Comerica Park. We are deep in the "Hot Stove" season. This is the time of year when fans obsess over trade rumors, arbitration figures, and whether the front office is actually going to spend money on a bullpen arm.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a dry spell for live action. But while there isn't a game starting at 1:10 PM or 7:10 PM tonight, the countdown to meaningful baseball has officially reached the "single digits" territory for some major milestones.
When Do the Tigers Actually Play Next?
The 2026 season is closer than it feels. We’ve already seen the official reporting dates for Spring Training. For those of you who track the calendar like a hawk, the first "real" event happens in about a month.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Lakeland, Florida, in early February. Specifically, the Tigers have their first official photo day scheduled for February 17, 2026, at 6:30 AM. That is the true sunrise of the season.
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The very first exhibition game on the 2026 schedule is an away matchup.
- Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Opponent: New York Yankees
- Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
- Time: 1:05 PM ET
If you are strictly looking for a home game at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, you’ll have to wait until Sunday, February 22. They host the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05 PM. Tickets for these games are already floating around the secondary market, starting as low as $30–$40 for some of the weekday afternoon slots.
Finding What Time Is The Detroit Tigers Game Today During the Season
Once the actual season starts, the "what time is the game" question gets a lot easier to answer. In 2026, MLB is sticking to its traditional scheduling windows, though they’ve tweaked a few things for national broadcasts.
Most weekday night games at Comerica Park will start at 6:40 PM or 7:10 PM. The Tigers have leaned into that 6:40 PM start time recently to help families get home a little earlier.
Day games? Those are usually 1:10 PM.
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But there’s a big caveat this year. Major League Baseball has a new (well, returning) partnership with NBC and Peacock. This means Sunday games are going to be all over the place. For example, the Tigers have a high-profile matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5, 2026. That game is slated for a 7:20 PM start on Peacock.
Basically, if it’s a Sunday, don't assume it’s a 1:00 PM start. You’ve got to check the streaming schedule.
The 2026 Opening Day Schedule
The Tigers aren't starting at home this year. They are heading out West.
On March 26, 2026, the Tigers open the regular season against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Because of the time zone difference, that game is going to be a late one for folks back in Michigan. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM local time, which is 7:10 PM for us in Detroit.
The real holiday, the Detroit Home Opener, is Friday, April 3, 2026.
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They’ll be facing the Cardinals. That game is a guaranteed sell-out and usually starts right around 1:10 PM. It’s the one day a year where the entire city of Detroit collectively decides to call in sick to work.
Why the Schedule Matters Right Now
You might think knowing the game time in January is useless. It’s not.
Travel planning for Lakeland is at its peak right now. If you’re planning to head down to Florida to catch a 1:05 PM game in March, you’re looking at flights and hotels today. Joker Marchant Stadium is one of the best spots in the Grapefruit League, but it fills up fast.
Also, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) is a factor this spring. Because of the tournament, some stars might be away from Tigers camp in February. The Tigers actually have an exhibition game against Team Panama on March 4 at 1:05 PM. That’s a weird, cool detail you don't see every year.
Actionable Steps for Tigers Fans Today
Since you can't watch a game today, here is how you can actually prepare for when the first pitch finally happens:
- Sync Your Calendar: Go to the official MLB website and download the 2026 Tigers schedule to your phone. It automatically updates when times change due to national TV picks.
- Check Your Streaming Subs: With games moving to Peacock and Apple TV+ again this year, make sure your logins work. There is nothing worse than missing the first two innings because you're resetting a password.
- Monitor the Hall of Fame: The 2026 Hall of Fame election results are coming out on January 20. It's the biggest "baseball" news you'll get this month.
- Buy Home Opener Tickets Early: Prices for the April 3rd game against St. Louis are already climbing. If you see a "low" price on a reputable site, grab it now.
Baseball is a game of patience. We're in the hardest part of that wait right now, but the 1:05 PM starts in Lakeland are only five weeks away.