Who should represent Detroit Tigers in MLB All-Star game?
The “Days of Roar” podcast debates which players from the Detroit Tigers should make an appearance in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, set for July 15.
After winning a rain-soaked three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Detroit Tigers are heading to the Sunshine State for a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays will host the Tigers for a three-game series from Friday, June 20, to Sunday, June 22, at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.
The Rays are not playing their home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg this year because of damage the dome suffered during Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9.
Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home of the New York Yankees, who are allowing the Rays to use the open-air stadium for the 2025 season.
The Tigers may be hoping for a less-eventful series than the one they just finished once down in Tampa. The Tigers won the first game of the series 7-3 on Tuesday, June 17, thanks in part to a two-home-run game from Javier Báez. A rainout on Wednesday, June 18, forced a doubleheader on Thursday with Cy Young favorites Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes starting each end of the doubleheader for the Tigers and Pirates, respectively.
Despite a challenging day in the rainy weather, Skubal pitched effectively and the Tigers bats supported their starter in a 9-2 win in Game 1 of the doubleheader on Thursday. Game 2 got messy, however, first with an altercation between Tigers fans and Pirates reliever Dennis Santana in the Pittsburgh bullpen, and then with three Tigers fans getting ejected from the game after a heated exchange with Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham.
A controversial review in the 10th inning of that game allowed the Pirates to take a 5-4 lead that eventually turned into an 8-4 extra-innings win, preventing the Tigers from securing the sweep.
With the loss, the Tigers dropped to 48-28 and hold the best record in MLB, two games ahead of the Chicago Cubs (45-29). The Tigers own a 9½-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central, marking the largest division lead of any first-place team in MLB.
After going 11-15 in April, the Rays have bounced back in May and June, sitting in second place in the AL East with a 41-34 record, 2½ games behind the New York Yankees. The Tigers feasted against the Rays in 2024, however, going 5-1 against a Tampa Bay team that finished under .500 for the first time since 2017.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming Tigers series against the Rays:
Date: Friday, June 20.
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida.
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET.
The Detroit Tigers will be facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game series in Tampa from Friday, June 20, to Sunday, June 22. Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.
How to watch Tigers vs. Rays series
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET.
Channel: FSND.
Streaming: FanDuel Sports+, Fubo.
Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1
Friday’s Tigers game can be watched on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and streamed on the FanDuel Sports app and through Fubo.
Stream the Detroit Tigers on Fubo
Start times for Tigers vs. Rays series
Friday, June 20: 7:05 p.m. (FSND).
Saturday, June 21: 12:10 p.m. ET (FSND, Fox).
Sunday, June 22: 12:10 p.m. ET (FSND).
Friday’s matchup between the Tigers and Rays will air locally on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit at 7:05 p.n. ET. Saturday and Sunday’s games are both scheduled to start at 12:10 p.m, ET, and will be broadcasted on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
Additionally, Saturday’s game will air on Fox for local fans and MLB Network for out-of-market fans, giving viewers plenty of options to watch the game.
Tigers vs. Rays pitching matchup
Friday, June 20: RHP Jack Flaherty (DET) vs. RHP Shane Baz (TBR).
Saturday, June 21: RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (DET) vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot (TBR).
Sunday, June 22: RHP Casey Mize (DET) vs. RHP Zack Littell (TBR).
After facing two left-handed starters during the Pirates series, the Tigers lineup is scheduled to face three right-handed Rays starters for the upcoming weekend series. The Rays are leading the AL in starter innings pitched (424) entering Friday’s game.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com
