Detroit and Tampa Bay will battle it out at Steinbrenner Field the next three days.
The Detroit Tigers hit the road this weekend after splitting a six-game home stand with the Cincinnati Reds — who took their series, two games to one — and the Pittsburgh Pirates , who dropped two of three to the good guys inside Comerica Park.
Now, AJ Hinch and Co. head down to face the Tampa Bay Rays at a minor league venue after Tropicana Field was devastated by a hurricane last year. Imagine that, hurricanes in Florida.
These Rays are no slouches, entering the game 2.5 games behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees while sporting the sixth-best run differential in the majors at plus-65. They had won six of their last 10, but recently split a four-game home series with the Baltimore Orioles .
Detroit, on the other hand, currently holds a two-game lead over the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball and an MLB-best 9.5-game edge in the Central over the Cleveland Guardians . The Tigers’ run differential of plus-87 is third-best in the game, behind the Cubs and Dodgers, respectively.
On Friday night, the Motor City Kitties will have Jack Flaherty taking the mound. The veteran right-hander had thrown four straight quality starts for the Olde English D, posting a 1.46 ERA and 2.33 FIP over 24 2⁄3 innings, allowing just one home run while striking out 29 against eight walks. However, he got blasted his last time out against Cincinnati, allowing seven runs in 4 2⁄3 innings for the loss.
For the Rays, 26-year-old Shane Baz will climb the hill coming off his fifth quality start in 14 appearances this season. However, the other four all came in April, and since then, he has been rather mid at best.
Detroit Tigers (48-28) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (41-34)
Time (ET): 7:05 p.m.
Place: Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida
SB Nation Site: DRaysBay
Media: FanDuel Sports Detroit
, MLB.TV
, Tigers Radio Network
Game 77: RHP Jack Flaherty (5-7, 4.03 ERA) vs. RHP Shane Baz (6-3, 4.54 ERA)
FLAHERTY
Baseball Savant
BAZ
Baseball Savant
out of town for the weekend ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/GGeUTVNgTe
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 20, 2025
Due to weather, fans are currently advised to shelter in their vehicles. Parking lots are closed until the advisory is lifted.
Visit https://t.co/7F3q862L8U for more info.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 20, 2025