Detroit Tigers release 2021 spring training schedule

The Detroit Tigers released their 2021 spring training schedule on Wednesday, though there is admittedly much to overcome between then and now due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, looking forward to a brighter future, the franchise plans on playing its games under the warm Lakeland sun come February.

The calendar kicks off on Feb. 26 with an exhibition match with the Southeastern University Fire, an annual tradition where the Tigers face one of Lakeland’s local colleges in a battle of the... lakes? Regardless, it is a tune-up game that is usually available for free via live stream that is worth catching if you cannot be there.

The real action begins the next day on Feb. 27 when the Tigers travel to Tampa to take on the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field, with game time still to be determined. Detroit gets its official spring training home opener the following day against the Boston Red Sox as part of a three-game span in Lakeland before making their first split-squad trip on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Tigers’ first and only AL Central intra-division match comes against the Minnesota Twins on March 10 at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers. Otherwise, it is basically a carousel of Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Orioles, Braves, Pirates and Rays — with a dash of Astros and Nats in there for good measure.